Urbanism
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Top of the world
The elusive alchemy that makes a good city a great place to live is something we’ve been dedicated to understanding since Monocle began. With a sharper eye than ever, we present our top 25.
Asia
What to do with an ugly building project in Tokyo? Cover it with a park, of course. Plus: "clean-air" holidays in China and flying doctors in Thailand.
Expo 65 – Part 02: Colombo
Five years after its civil war, Sri Lanka’s capital has undergone an incredible transformation. While there’s still plenty to do, a burgeoning arts scene and youthful optimism are signs of good things.
The hot spots
It’s been a great year for some and a tougher year for others. Here’s a tour of our top 25 cities and why we love them.
A problem shared
In the Chilean capital, services usually controlled by the government (water, road maintenance, street lighting) have been farmed out to private firms or, as in the case of firefighting, plucky volunteers.
Play grounds
The role of parks and other green urban spaces as quality-of-life improvers cannot be underestimated. Monocle takes a leafy stroll.
Clean team
The Green Bird team of Tokyo is an army of young people, with cool haircuts and bibs supplied by Nike. cleaning up their city. Picking up litter has never been sexier.
Way to go
The signs that enhance our cities come in a chaotic mix of shapes and sizes. The craft of creating inspiring text falls to those with clear heads – the sign-writers.
Expo 65 – Part 01: Palermo
Much of its complex history is dark and overshadowed by the Mafia but Palermo’s citizens have fought back and reclaimed their seductive city as a centre for art and gastronomy.
