Great Cultural Projects (GCPs) have a multi-layer influence on the development of cities, their socio economic situation, functional-spatial structure, tourist attractions as well as their environment quality. The article focuses on their role in water-side area transformation as over 70% of the events were located in the waterfront areas, however, the research covered all the GCPs in the world from the 19th till the beginning of the 21st c. The research allowed to define four GCP types: world and international exhibitions, gardening exhibitions, Olympic Games and the projects by the European Capitals of Culture. GCPs have acted as a catalyst for the development of new districts and the regeneration of degraded areas which resulted not only in creating numerous architectural icons and new city image but also in the social awareness raising and global education.
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