The Development of Shopping Centers in Istanbul

This study examines the rapid growth of shopping centers in Türkiye since the 2000s, with particular emphasis on their transformation into significant urban destinations capable of meeting consumers’ increasingly diverse and multifunctional needs. In İstanbul, shopping centers have become important components of metropolitan life, extending beyond their conventional role as retail spaces to provide comprehensive environments for leisure and social activities that respond to the varied needs of both local communities and international visitors. By bringing together services and facilities related to security, hygiene, entertainment, and recreation, these spaces have increasingly assumed the characteristics of contemporary public environments and have contributed to the reshaping of urban consumption practices. Plans are in place to open seven new shopping centers across Turkey by the end of 2026. At the same time, there has been a shift: older centers, such as the Profilo Shopping Centre, have been closed down and converted into residential developments. Architectural trends in İstanbul have evolved from purely commercial ‘boxes’ to urban squares, mixed-use developments, and thematic and experiential design. New projects are integrating residential, office and shopping centre spaces with green and open spaces and sustainability features.