Spatial Planning Challenges of Mega Regions: Understanding Dynamism and Complexity of Istanbul and Periphery

Istanbul Metropolitan Area is a regional magnet according to OECD Territorial Review, has been challenging socio-economic, administrative, governance transformations and spatial planning projects since last decade. In this study, transition of metropolitan governance structure of Istanbul Metropolitan Area assessed with interaction of diverse planning projects’ practice. The mechanics and dynamics of interrelated projects and their loops classified with policy analysis approaches. Themes/sectors of metropolitan scale master planning processes lead by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality are; earthquake, environment, transportation, urban regeneration, logistics lighting, bicycle, etc. Add to this phenomenon, ecological, transportation and logistics connections of 14.5m metropolis with her periphery have created another dimension of dynamism. Periphery of Istanbul has become “urban-region” or “mega-region” with relations of other cities and metropolises located around the Marmara Sea. As a result more feedback and fine-tuning actions proposed in order to have an optimum regional scale sustainable development from mechanical point of view