Analyzing the Quality of Place: Creative Clusters in Soho and Beyoğlu

Abstract

This paper analyzes the spatial characteristics of some parts of cities where the creative types (i.e. companies and people) involved in creative production are densely located. It aims to identify those socio-spatial factors that attract and retain creatives. In particular, it focuses on the film industry-based inner-city creative clusters, i.e. Soho in London and Beyoğlu in İstanbul. This exploratory, cross-national, multiple case study applies the qualitative research techniques of interviews, observations, cognitive and cluster mapping. The paper concludes with the Analysis Framework for the Quality of Place which reveals the integrity of physical, socio-cultural, perceptual and visual characteristics of place. In particular, it discusses the key performance criteria and the scale of place which provides an inspiring and productive environment such as walkability, spatial proximity, and the public realm.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Dr Stephen Platt, Professor Tim Heath and Dr Katharina Borsi, for their contribution for the accomplishment of this PhD research of which this paper's findings are based on.

Notes

^1. The term refers to the creative workforce, i.e. people working in the film industry in Soho and Beyoğlu.

^5. A person who sells old-second hand books.

^2. Int-S/B is the abbreviation for ‘Interviewee Soho and Interviewee Beyoğlu’.

^3. Erman Han is an office building renovated by a film company manager. It attracted other film companies to locate their offices (1960s). Plato Film School is located in Cihangir and it is a private film school founded by a well-known film director by renovating the old residential buildings (2000s). Cezayir Street Project is a streetscape project initiated by an entrepreneur. The project is also supported by a film company located around this area and a private university.

^4. The popularity of new Turkish cinema, affordable rents, nostalgic ties with the film industry, centrality and a sea view

Additional information

Funding

This research was co-funded by the International Office and the Department of Architecture at the University of Nottingham.