Readers of Monocle’s September issue, which is out tomorrow, will be able to appreciate on page something that I experienced in person last month: a peek into the brand-new Ett Hem guesthouse extension in Stockholm, designed by London firm Studioilse. While I won’t give away all the story of the upgrade, I’m keen to point out a meaningful design element that’s stuck with me. Since the residence went into operation 10 years ago, its wrought-iron entrance gates have remained closed. To enter, visitors ring a doorbell and are then greeted by a staff member, before passing through a leafy courtyard to access the building. This provides a proper sense of arrival, transporting guests from the city into this blissfully designed refuge and somehow cleansing them of the outside world in the process.