This paper analyses actual and future urban waterfront regeneration projects in Barcelona and Istanbul. Each case city, with its waterfront projects is assessed along the series of quality criteria which help to interpret the way in which these cities through these development projects try to re-install the water culture of the city and how this achievement helps improving the quality of urban life. This paper is organised in three parts. First part of the paper deals with Barcelona polygon, examining four large waterfront projects, second with Istanbul, analysing five urban revitalization projects on the Istanbul shore and the third addressing the issue of waterfront homogenization and standardization.