Design
Alvar Aalto’s designs define Finland abroad. But Unesco recognition is marring his legacy at home
Architectural powerhouses Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto are the pride of Finland. But could a new Unesco designation for 13 landmark projects threaten to do more harm than good?
Latest in Monocle Radio
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Into the fold: In an exclusive interview, Samsung’s head of design reveals what’s next for your smartphone
As Samsung launches a coveted range of foldable smartphones, Hubert Lee details what goes into designing the phones of tomorrow, as well as how foldables and AI integration are mapped into our future.
Why Copenhagen’s design culture is central to its high quality of life
Copenhagen consistently ranks highly on Monocle’s annual Quality of Life survey. The listing appears in our out-now July/August issue, in which the Danish capital comes in second place. Key to its success as a liveable city…
Trump weaponises architecture ahead of the US’s 250th birthday
Donald Trump is busily attempting to recast the US capital in his own image – but why does that image seem to resemble the ‘Germania’ envisioned by the Nazis?
The old-school way of keeping the summer heat out of your home
Modern air conditioning isn’t the only way to keep cool in the summer. For generations, people have used their ingenuity to dial down indoor temperatures using nothing more than a well-crafted shutter.
Snøhetta unveils plan to transform Alvar Aalto’s Paimio Sanatorium into ‘Finnish Camp David’
The Finnish architectural masterpiece, which was once a treatment centre for tuberculosis and later a hospital, has undergone a grand transformation into a multi-purpose resort – yet many of its features remain intact.
Stadium designer Alex Thomas’s top-10 sports venues in the world
With the World Cup drawing huge crowds across North America, we asked the regional design director for sports and entertainment at HKS London to tell us about his favourite arenas and grounds.
Meet the designers behind the Obama Presidential Center’s brand identity
How the small design studio developed signs, web pages and more to help visitors explore the Obamas’ legacy.
Monocle on Time: Unique perspectives from film, music and design
In this first episode of our new series exploring unique perspectives on time, Monocle founder and editorial director Tyler Brûlé speaks with Hong Kong’s first Olympic medallist in swimming, Siobhán Haughey; filmmaker, singer, record…
Greetings from the past: A look back at postcards serving as snapshots of history
How much can holiday missives from decades past tell us about the world? Volumes, says this postcard collector and author.
A shore cure for urban fatigue: How Sydney, New York and Kobe are rethinking their waterfronts
A fish market revelling in theatrics, an amphitheatre-inspired hill uniting the sea and mountains, and a park acting as a flood defence. Smartly designed spaces are bringing people back to the water.
