‘Grands projets’

The Urbanist on Monocle 24: ‘Grands projets’ to improve our cities. We look at ‘grands projets’ in cities around the world, from turning the Champs-Élysées into a giant urban garden to a reimagining of the Los Angeles river and a new community in Canada.

Monocle 24 Radio
The Urbanist 30 min listen

‘A lot of Republicans could not find it in themselves to challenge Trump; they’re worried he might run again in 2024.’

– James Fletcher, director of ‘The Accidental President’

Monocle 24 Radio
The Briefing 30 min listen

MFA THAILAND x MONOCLE

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The Monocle Minute

Clean sweep

I’m deeply suspicious of the folk and firms who overuse the word “sustainable”. As with all clichés, its meaning has been dulled, dimmed, narrowed and sometimes even co-opted by companies that are clamorously keen to seem green. And to be clear, just saying it isn’t a panacea for the world’s problems; that takes action, ideas and inspiration.That’s the mission behind Monocle’s springy out-today March issue, in which we highlight stories of people and places doing things better (rather than blathering or just rebranding their wastefulness). Here are three things that you’ll learn inside.

Featured podcasts and chapters

Monocle Reads: Bonnie Kemske

Bonnie Kemske is an artist, writer and former editor of ‘Ceramic Review’. Born in Okinawa but raised in the US, she studied the Zen Buddhist artform of Chanoyu in Japan before undertaking a PhD at the Royal College of Art, becoming a ceramicist and researcher. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book, ‘Kintsugi: The Poetic Mend’, which explores the unique tradition of repairing pottery with a visible, often gold-leaf-covered join.

Meet the Writers 15 min listen

Arlo Parks

As she releases her debut album, ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ the London-based singer, songwriter and poet Arlo Parks reflects on how she defines her sound. She tells us about the music and poetry she was brought up on, why certain instruments speak to her and the effect that the spoken word has on her music.

The Power of Sound 10 10 min listen

Kimai and Hotel Starlino

We meet Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus, childhood friends who grew up in family jewellery businesses and are now co-founders of Kimai, a brand built around lab-grown diamonds in Antwerp, which is appealing to more socially aware buyers. Plus: spirits-branding expert Elwyn Gladstone joins to discuss Hotel Starlino, an all-natural aperitivo and vermouth range distilled in Turin.

The Entrepreneurs 489 30 min listen

Explainer 245: Genocide – why won’t world leaders call it what it is?

To enact genocide is to commit the most heinous of crimes deserving the strongest of consequences. But calling it out comes with ramifications. Andrew Mueller explains why most leaders will call it anything but ‘that’.

The Foreign Desk 6 min listen

On air now

The Pacific Shift

The Pacific Shift brings you music from around the Pacific Rim, Asia and beyond. J-pop, K-pop, T-pop and more, Monocle is the soundtrack to your day by the Pacific.

Up next: Monocle on Culture

Latest Podcasts

Thursday 25 February

Can diplomacy bring Myanmar’s military coup to an end? Plus: why some of Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees are struggling to secure confirmation and the world’s first port for flying electric vehicles takes shape in the UK.

The Late Edition 20 min listen

‘Grands projets’

We look at ‘grands projets’ in cities around the world, from turning the Champs-Élysées into a giant urban garden to a reimagining of the Los Angeles river and a new community in Canada.

The Urbanist 30 min listen

Thursday 25 February

Why has Amnesty stripped Alexei Navalny of his ‘prisoner of conscience’ status? Plus: Turkey’s crackdown on the PKK, film-maker James Fletcher on his Trump documentary and Pakistan’s pop charts.

The Briefing 30 min listen

Arlo Parks

As she releases her debut album, ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ the London-based singer, songwriter and poet Arlo Parks reflects on how she defines her sound. She tells us about the music and poetry she was brought up on, why certain instruments speak to her and the effect that the spoken word has on her music.

The Power of Sound 10 min listen

Latest Films

Monocle preview: March issue, 2021

Monocle’s optimistic March issue challenges us to do it better, whether that be by growing your own forest or running a cleaner, leaner business. We visit the cities bringing the wilderness back to urban life and find out why you can mend almost anything. Plus: nature’s fluffiest film stars.Available now at The Monocle Shop

1 min video

Harajuku and Aoyama neighbourhood guide

Harajuku is a neighbourhood of contrasts, home to the Meiji Shrine, which is surrounded by one of Tokyo’s largest green spaces, and a dense network of small streets packed with shops and cafés. Aoyama attracts a more grown-up crowd. Here, chic boutiques sit alongside one of the city’s most exquisite museums.

Kanda neighbourhood guide

This historic corner of northeast Tokyo was once described as a place for “universities, bookshops and intellectuals”. Academic institutions are still there – along with the Holy Resurrection Cathedral – but Kanda is also home to electronics district Akihabara, a huge shrine and dozens of Japanese curry restaurants too.

Yanaka neighbourhood guide

Yanaka moves at a different pace from much of Tokyo. As the city has changed around it, Yanaka has retained its old-fashioned atmosphere. Vacant wooden buildings have been brought back to life as new businesses such as cafés, noodle shops and galleries give them a fresh purpose.

Latest issue

Issue 141 ∙ March 2021

“Do it better” is the theme of Monocle’s March issue, which surveys the firms and folks creating sustainable ways of living and working. We visit the companies rewilding our cities, find the makers focused on repairing our relationship with manufacturing and meet the urbanists imagining greener, healthier places to live and work. With our usual focus on design, diplomacy, architecture and art, our editors have brought together an inspiring read on the world – not to mention some advice for ejecting a moose from your garden.

Buy this issue

Previous issues

Issue 140 ∙ February 2021

Monocle’s February issue encourages you to hit play on your ideas and ambitions for 2021. Whether you’re hoping to start a local newspaper (or a global one), revive your neighbourhood or set up a sauna in a tent, we have 50 ideas about how to make the year a success. Plus: we speak to Greece’s prime minister about strengthening the country’s national brand.

Issue 139 ∙ December 2020/January 2021

As we prepare to ring in 2021, it’s time to look back and assess which countries are flying high in our annual Soft Power Survey. There’s plenty to take stock of in Monocle’s end-of-year December/January issue: from a range of voices on what’s next for the US, to the power of rural reinvention and the big business of looking forward. We’ve got all your holiday prepping sorted, too, with an inspiring 15-page gift guide – and an extensive run-down of all the books, TV shows and films that will keep you stimulated this winter.

Free to read in this issue

Strong foundation

France’s embassy in Kenya was built with the climate in mind. But does it serve its primary purpose: to foster ties between the two countries?

6 min read

True colour

A future-focused shopping centre from the brains behind Eataly, Green Pea occupies a largely self-sufficient building and holds its in-store partners to a sustainably minded manifesto. Will it catch on? We head to its northern Italian base.

6 min read

Feel the breeze

There are more ways to keep cool than cranking up the air conditioning, as architects in more temperate climes have been discovering for years. From naturally cool materials to clever ways to harness wind and shade, here are 10 shortcuts to a breezier building.

4 min read

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‘Grands projets’

Monocle Reads: Bonnie Kemske

MFA THAILAND x MONOCLE

Clean sweep

Tap in to innovation

The Art of Moving Forward

Where heritage lives on

The Monocle Book of Italy

Featured podcasts and chapters

Monocle Reads: Bonnie Kemske

Arlo Parks

Kimai and Hotel Starlino

Explainer 245: Genocide – why won’t world leaders call it what it is?

On air now

The Pacific Shift

Latest Podcasts

Thursday 25 February

‘Grands projets’

Thursday 25 February

Arlo Parks

Latest Films

Monocle preview: March issue, 2021

Harajuku and Aoyama neighbourhood guide

Kanda neighbourhood guide

Yanaka neighbourhood guide

Latest issue

Issue 141 ∙ March 2021

Previous issues

Issue 140 ∙ February 2021

Issue 139 ∙ December 2020/January 2021

Free to read in this issue

Strong foundation

True colour

Feel the breeze

Featured products

Leuchtturm1917 x Monocle Weekly diary 2021

Bally x Monocle Curling boot

Porter x Monocle Shorthauler bag

Treuleben x Monocle Envelope pouch

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Thursday 25 February 2021

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