Urbanism
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Can Penn Station be beautiful again, without becoming a political battleground?
Some want to “Make America Beautiful Again” by restoring Penn Station’s original grandeur. Others see that as a political red flag. The fight over a train station reveals deeper divisions.

How Gabriel Chipperfield saved a London street
What began as a hotel redevelopment became a full-blown neighbourhood revival, reimaginging a Bayswater stretch with Spanish-style dining, a stylish florist and a liveable approach to the high street.

Join the Monocle team in Barcelona for new perspectives on building a better future
In less than four weeks’ time our Quality of Life Conference will be taking place in Barcelona. It will be the 10th edition of an event that, for me, is the highlight of the…

How informal “architectural bastards” could shape Thailand’s urban future
How can architecture better reflect a country’s real character? Thai designer Chatpong Chuenrudeemol shares how shanty towns, love motels and street carts reshaped his practice, and his vision for Southeast Asia.

Sadiq Khan supports “a better Heathrow, not a bigger one” as £21bn runway plans are submitted
London’s mayor remains opposed to the 100 per cent privately-funded plans for a £21bn runway at Heathrow, and previously detailed to Monocle the reasoning behind his reluctance.

How more cities can unlock the hidden potential of urban swimming – the joyful perk hiding in plain sight
Swimming, floating or simply messing about in open-air bodies of water is good for us. Cities can free their rivers, ponds and lakes to make it possible. Here’s how.

Urban regeneration can save our cities – all it takes is fresh perspective
As cities densify and space grows scarce, a quiet revolution is transforming forgotten corners into new opportunities.

My life as a park bench
Have you heard? You humans are rethinking the very function that we benches have performed so honourably for centuries. It’s time to take a stand.

The Seine’s reopening to swimmers marks a watershed moment for Paris’s civic renewal
For the first time in more than a century, Parisians have been allowed to swim in the Seine. Three outdoor bathing areas opened to the public this weekend amid a searing heatwave, though authorities…

What we gain and lose with the rise of sky gardens
Although green spaces are always a welcome addition to urban landscapes, vertical lawns can never replace real parks in the heart of cities.
