Affairs
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Hop on board
Grand transit projects add sheen to a city's reputation, but cheaper, less disruptive ways to keep things moving are on the rise. Don't be surprised to see tiny buses on your town's streets soon.
Cleaning up its act
The traditionally working-class neighbourhood of Jalan Besar is emerging as a hotbed of creativity, cafés, architecture practices, galleries and studios. What’s more, the sophistication of the area’s offering is growing by the day.
It’s a small world
Bigger isn’t always better. We explore petite but perfectly formed shared spaces, from a restaurant-shop in Tokyo to a cultural hub in São Paulo, sizing up the tiny trailblazers forging a new path.
Fertile markets
As rural depopulation accelerates, firms are finding ways to ensure city-dwellers maintain their connection to the soil. Here are three businesses ploughing their own furrows to get the countryside growing again.
Southern Belle
Megan Billings reporting from Church Hill: The heart of the old American South is being revitalised by community funding and innovators looking for a new challenge.
Built to last
Many cities need more housing schemes but fall short of making them characterful and interesting. We visit a Swiss development that has built-in charm and diversity.
Branching out
An Italian company has taken inspiration from nature to design a graceful outdoor gym. The collaboration uses specially developed materials, robust enough to survive in public spaces but beautiful enough to avoid ruining them.
Reportage: Captains of industry
Greece’s maritime tradition is keeping the country afloat. Monocle drops anchor at the naval academies on Hydra and in Piraeus, where a new generation of sailors are being educated for a life at sea.
Go ape
With the dreaded Year of the Sheep coming to a close, it's time to celebrate its simian successor. The Year of the Monkey traditionally favours shrewd negotiators and bold action. Here's what's in store.
Key to a happy home
Homes today are often about a chilly display of wealth, not creating a place that makes you feel safe. It’s time to campaign for a new, healthy architecture that puts people first.
