Design
Page 145
Asia
Tackling pollution in China and rebuilding Nepal's schools after April's earthquake.
End of an era
We look back at the hushed world of the iconic Hotel Okura in Tokyo. Monocle Films was granted exclusive access to capture the gracious ways of this much-loved modernist gem just before it was…
Beat the retreat
Our ideal retreat avoids stuffy ceremony. Instead, it offers guests a happy mix of gym classes, nutritious food, and the simple pleasures of an Old Town’s cobbled streets and card players.
Urban renewal
What makes a busy city tick along? Here we outline some simple improvements we’d like to see shaping our metropolises into more inclusive places to live, from winding roads to rotating benches.
Oceania
North Queensland puts the "town" back in Townsville, Sydney signage and hurricane-resistant housing in Fiji.
Expo: Time capsule
Built in 1939 by Hermann Herter, Zürich’s Strandbad Wollishofen remains a masterclass in municipal design — proof that a lakeside bathhouse can be both functional and utterly timeless.
Better by design
Architect Ridwan Kamil was an outsider when he stood for mayor in his hometown. Public space and a design-minded attitude are his tools for remaking his city’s civic culture.
Royal to the last
Montréal’s Linton, Chateau and Acadia apartment buildings are beacons of historic grandeur. Monocle takes a tour of homes that celebrate the city’s architectural heritage.
Built to plan
Building a vibrant metropolis from scratch is no easy feat. Here are three examples of planned cities from different periods of history that have successfully stood the test of time.
Refit for purpose
Masataka Baba started his business because no one offered what he needed. Now, his firm turns Tokyo’s disused buildings into rentable properties and is looking further afield for its next project.
