Our editor in chief on why developers should be seizing the opportunity to build apartments that people can spread out in.

We hear what Toronto is saying but fail to understand London’s buses; we also find Singapore’s robots annoying and marvel at some of Mongolia’s biggest exports in our global news round-up.

With Ukraine’s staging of Eurovision in trouble, a Swedish superstar was asked to step in. How could he ever refuse?

The strategically key Bosphorus Strait has put Istanbul’s nerdy ship-spotters at the axis of shifting military tides.

Each month we’ll be capturing the signature looks at our favourite trade fairs. This issue the crowd at Art Basel in Hong Kong has something to say.

An elite club for wealthy nations no more: under the guidance of Angel Gurría and his team, the OECD has broadened its membership and kept pace with a perplexing global economy.

Jasper Morrison has designed hundreds of products with a simple mission to make you feel good. In his favourite Berlin spot he explains why you can never have enough chairs.

Despite being blindsided by Donald Trump’s presidency, Democratic California has rallied in defiance. Its next challenge? The business of governing.

With China and Russia as neighbours, Mongolia’s future rests on pragmatism and smart planning. We look at the forces driving the growth of central Asia’s oasis of democracy.

As demand grows, city living spaces are getting more compact. But there are opportunities to be had by embracing micro homes.

A retail revolution is taking place in the Thai capital, all inspired by the written word.

We meet Unit Editions, whose authoritative and accessible design books are made with a deft but human touch.

Flourishing literary festival Hay has grown from a small-town get-together to a global brand and shows no signs of stopping – even as it reaches its 30th anniversary. We toast the occasion with founder Peter Florence as he talks curiosity and the desire for conversation.

On her new album, Beirut-born Arabic singer Yasmine Hamdan continues to give (beautiful) voice to common feeling.

As committed to its Catalonian heritage as it is to classic design, Santa & Cole is a shining example of good collaboration.

Major innovations in design creation and curation are being displayed at Europe’s specialist fairs. We pay a visit to three of the most forward thinking.

They say that true originality is a myth. But by bucking trends and being authentic, the Jackalope Hotel has a very real story to tell – and it looks good doing it.

It’s tempting for successful architects to go global but these three practices are nicely rooted and widely reflective.

Arizona’s arid landscape is home to a surprisingly plentiful crop. We meet the medjool-date technicians reaching for the skies in Yuma.

South Korea’s independent retailers are gently shaking up a market that matches peerless homegrown brands and well-pressed European perfection.

Meet the entrepreneur and shop owner redefining Berlin street by street.

As the rest of the world closes its doors, Argentina is opening up. Treasury minister Nicolás Dujovne tells us about leaving his country’s protectionist past behind and stepping into a free future.

Francis Kéré’s dreams of a new parliament in Ouagadougou, the Polish government’s power grab and a new name in Korean politics.

The Japanese diplomats digging up documents to claim territory, what the Vatican and Italy agree to disagree on and Australia’s expansion in Latin America.

Who the Thais are buying from and what that says about the region, a game changer in the helicopter industry and is it time for an EU army?

A Toronto neighbourhood with lessons for other cities, a bike scheme lacking in pedal power and a fruity solution in Lisbon.

Lithuania’s visa just for entrepreneurs, Norway’s dreamiest business – and what would the founder of Hong Kong’s latest sunglasses brand spend €5,000 on?

How to translate design on television, the Autophoto show in Paris and a preview of Photo London.

The best new spots in which to drink and dine, from Adelaide to Madrid, Berlin to Kyoto.

Officine Générale and Eyevan 7285.

Thrilling reads, unmissable shops, hot tracks and enticing products.

With political turmoil unexpectedly yielding stable economic conditions, Italy is a land of nothing if not confusion.

The head of design for BMW Group on the best pens to carry and what gets him revved up in the mornings.

Uniqlo’s new home represents the company’s desire to become a more hi-tech operation – and rewire its staff at the same time.

Despite being fired from two jobs, Monica von Schmalensee now heads Scandinavia’s largest architecture practice. She mulls over the merits of being direct in the design world.

Kitting out your office? Sprucing up your home? The furniture and firms you need are perfectly arranged right here.

How do you improve on perfection? For the owners of the Birtcher-Share House it meant asking what the architect would have done and matching his humility at every step.

There’s a particular colour that is in demand: it can convey a brand’s honesty, suggest authority and even lift our mood. But because of this popularity, it’s increasingly difficult to find a truly new hue. Monocle goes in search of its own slice of blue heaven.

We join the Emerald City’s brightest culinary lights to discover why there is more to food here than smashed avo’ on toast.

From the annals of ancient Rome to 15th-century India, asparagus has been cropping up for centuries – and it makes a particularly strong impact in this springtime dish. It may be quick to make but this Italian-inspired favourite leaves a lasting impression on the tastebuds.

The former White House photographer on Barack Obama, presidential plates and high-class cuisine on Air Force One.

Is H&M’s new flagship the future of fast retail? Plus: have suits become a thing of the past?

From classic trainers to hi-tech trousers and hard-working swimwear, pick your key pieces wisely to create an outfit with longlasting appeal.

Whether you want to feel at home in stockholm or relaxed in lisbon, our round-up of venues with personality has you covered.

Where to sleep, eat and shop this month.

Slow down and enjoy the sights in this Taiwanese city.

Struggling to rise with the lark? From coffee to newspapers, here are a few enlivening items.

The dapper australian barbershop bringing class back to men’s grooming.