Cultural cities of the world determine their style of existence through their distinctive characteristics. A multi-dimensional accumulation of experince is the dominant factor on the lives in such cities. Protection of this identity indicates that its citizens are behaving in the right direction to evaluate the city's today and tomorrow.
With these thoughts in mind, if and when we judge Istanbul -a city very rich in culture and nature- along with other such cities, and if and when we make a fair assessment of its yesterday, today and tomorrow, we have to find convincing headlines to the basic questions In what condition are the places or the environments today, which make Istanbul what it actually is? To what extent have they been able to preserve their identity and weight? Do the efforts that create positive winds sweeping the global

cities of the world, have a chance of having themselves felt in Istanbul?
Doubtless, the number of such questions may be increased under differing headlines. The results of disasterous mistakes may be explained with their reasons. Examples may be given which will lead us to pessimism and hopelessness. However, cities just like human beings, have their days of pain and sorrow. What is important is to provide a life line to those points which will lead to the sovereignity of truth; and to determine the priorites and prevelant values wisely and thoughtfully.
Within this process, the priority environments and areas of the global city of Istanbul are already known. The depth of its past as capital of great empires determines its starting points: the Historical Peninsula, the Golden Horn and and the Bosphorus.
Istanbul at all stages of its history has managed continually to preserve its special geography, and its characteristic of being the point at which waters of diffent cultures intersect. Should those who have studied carefully the development stages of Istanbul and trace the monumental buildings which have survived to our day, they would easily understand which factors have been deterministic in foundation of trade and dwelling districts.
The Grand Bazaar is the most concrete example of this proposition. This district which has taken part in the foundation stories of the city, has preserved its importance in commerce and administration and multidimensional experiences have unconsciously displayed here their concrete results.
If we are to learn in detail: the organizational skills; art and craft relationships of the past; values which have flown into here from the rest of the world and those that have been offered from here; in short this special meeting place of the nations of the world; we must founder a suitable agenda for the Grand Bazaar. This is yet another way with which the Grand Bazaar can be carried to differing dimensions in a world where relationships between nature/man/culture and labour/production/commerce are being revised and renewed.
Already covered by different publications, if the Grand Bazaar with its strenght accumulated through years and traditions and with its qualities and refinements, could "speak for itsself", this would be the first of its kind.
Those who keep alive the experiences which have survived through many generations, could share the outcome, the organisational skill of the past will be reflected and tradition will recieve continuity. And as experince will be transferred to verse, limitations of permanancy will be forced.
Turkish poet Orhal Veli talks of "covered bazaar, covered box". Now this covered or rather sealed box is being relieved by its possessors; for the first time along with its manufacturers/authors/shopkeepers. Its doubtless that it will also be them to keep alive and keep going this publication.
We hope that this publication ›s as long lived as the "Grand Bazaar".