Quality of Life
Page 7
Athens Greece
Vouliagmeni is Athen’s wealthiest neighbourhood, where old-school rules. And now it has a revived hotel that’s set to pull in a jet-ski set.
Happy space
City dwellers pine for attractive and usable public spaces and city planners are taking note. We visit places where poetic verses are daubed on streets and ‘playable pavements’ allow children to let off steam.
Before you read our editor in chief’s welcome note, turn your phone off.
A welcome from our editor in chief.
Inside Finland’s state-backed pursuit of happiness
According to the UN, Finns live in the world’s happiest nation. Decades of government-led tweaks to Finnish life have conjured a surprising level of contentment, making the country a social experiment.
The happiness formula
We often ask if people are ‘ok’. But since when was being ok good enough? This isn't about scraping by: it’s about celebrating elements of life that surpass the ordinary.
The lowdown
In a world that’s now too brightly and badly lit, we look to industry luminaries who fully understand the positive impact of subtle lighting.
Big ideas
Urban transformation often begins on a local scale, as these inspiring initiatives prove
Quality of Life Survey: Metropolis now
You want a city that’s well run, delivers on life’s essentials and is fun too? This is our ranking of the top 25 in the world.
Local authority
Be it Brazil or Beirut, effective urban regeneration needs ideas from residents who understand their city’s problems and potential. Here’s a global line-up of innovative citizen initiatives.
The opener
We swig Vienna’s wonderful water and find out why ditching the car has made one writer a joyrider. Plus: Vancouver’s mini libraries, Latin American litter pickers and Berlin’s barbecues.
