Urban development process and creative clustering: The film industry in Soho and Beyoglu

Abstract

The article focuses on the urban development process that contributes to creative clustering of the film industry in Soho and Beyoglu. It explains how different policy-led and organic development processes have shaped location patterns of creative clusters. It also discusses the role of urban design in the formation, growth and sustainability of creative clustering. The findings of this cross-national study suggest that the overall quality of place that attracts and retains creative clusters is related to place-making processes, including both policy-led interventions and organic dynamics of the places. The study strongly suggests that sustainability of creative clustering results from the successful integration of public policy with organic change and policy-led initiatives, if informed by, and backed by local community and business interests, which can counterbalance the negative effect of market forces on clusters. Although there is little that urban design itself can do to initiate clustering, once the conditions favouring clustering have developed organically, then urban design, stewardship and coordinated action between the urban actors all have a role in supporting the continued existence of co-location and economic prosperity of these clusters.