Urbanism
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Expo 11: Olympic gold rush
As the world focuses on Beijing for the Olympics, a massive building boom transforms the city. Monocle visits the Olympic Park to see if it’s nation-branding folly or the start of the Chinese century.
Maltese crossing
Malta, the Mediterranean island with a population of 400,000, is booming thanks to EU membership and its adoption of the euro. It’s also perfectly poised to exploit renewed trade with Gaddafi’s Libya.
Saggen
Beyond being an ideal event city, Innsbruck’s year-round vibrancy makes it perfect for second, or even first home status. Prices may be high, but then so is the quality of life.
Yubari: Ghost town
Featuring the haunting photographs of Shinichi Ito, our Asia bureau chief, Fiona Wilson, reports from Yubari, the Japanese coal city that lost 90 per cent of its residents after its mines closed and the…
The coast is cleared
Is your country too small? Make it bigger. Monocle reports from Singapore and the Netherlands, where nations are reclaiming record amounts of land from the sea to expand their territory and house growing populations.
Observation
Rail life story: We love trains and think it’s time that the English-speaking world reacquired a taste for them too.
Isle be back
Japan's Okinawa prefecture is experiencing a renaissance. Companies large and small are capitalising on its relaxed, affordable lifestyle, great beaches and warm climate, with the city of Naha leading the way.
Observation
How often do you plot what your perfect day would look and feel like, or think about what would improve the way you cross towns, country and continents? I do it all the time.
