Affairs
Page 169
The state of independence
As Catalan sovereignty remains a point of crisis in Spain, we chart the timeline of the chaotic 2017 referendum and what it might mean for other regions seeking to go it alone.
Muddy waters
With millions of tonnes of plastic ending up in our oceans, activists and entrepreneurs are taking action. Here are five plans that prove there may yet be hope for calmer waters ahead.
Talking points
From US midterms to political trouble-makers, we look at the events, nations and people poised to influence and define 2018.
A little respect
Japan’s penchant for knocking down old buildings is taking a back seat in one prefecture, where the modernist architecture could, with the right exposure, help boost tourism.
The show must go on
Amie Ferris-Rotman reporting from Moscow: The Russian capital’s suburban cinemas crumbled with the USSR – but now two brothers are reviving the buildings and reinventing them as community hubs.
Direct current
In this eight-part series with Audi, Monocle discovers the future of urban mobility. We begin by focusing on electric cars and how cities must adapt to accommodate them on our streets.
Casa Vicens opens its doors with locals, not just tourists, in mind
The architecture of Antoni Gaudí has branded this city but until now this masterpiece has been off-limits. As it finally reveals its secrets, it’s caught up in a Catalan identity crisis.
Quick off the blocks
Fast-paced drama and geopolitical intrigue aren’t just for Netflix. The 24-hour Olympic Channel is here, and with the PyeongChang Games approaching, it hopes to run rings around its rivals.
French connection
The much-hyped Louvre Abu Dhabi is finally open. Is it an oasis of culture in a desert of extremism, a building that embodies global understanding or a theme park of airbrushed internationalism?
Made with care
Got a civic project that not only needs to look smart but also have people’s best interests at heart? You need a Dutch architect.
