Who’s keeping the lights on?

As prices skyrocket and pipelines mysteriously explode, the folly of Europe’s over-dependence on fossil fuels, especially those imported from Russia, is being revealed and punished. With autumn turning to winter, Monocle visits the people, places and companies forging the continent a way out of the energy crisis.
Finding Nebo

In our October issue last year, we ran a diary of the fall of Kabul. In passing, our author mentioned a personal footnote – a dog lost. This is what happened next.
Up in the air

Big-name architects are helping to transform Ecuador’s capital – but do its residents want the high life?
Back on track

The rail industry is abuzz with chatter of a golden age of trains. Monocle takes a prime seat at trade fair Innotrans to gauge the direction of travel.
Is the way we work really changing?

The nature of work is constantly evolving and what labour will look like in the future is one of the biggest questions facing architects, employers and educators today. Here, our learned panel unpicks some of the issues that our workforce will face in the years to come.
Glass half full

Despite pandemic woes and the loss of the Russian market, the CEO of Pernod Ricard is upbeat – it’s all just part of business life, he says, and there’s always another opportunity around the corner.
Common currency

Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo has embarked on a mergers and acquisition programme with cultural clout, turning prestigious buildings in Milan, Turin and Vicenza into the Gallerie d’Italia – public art museums displaying the bank’s large collection of pieces. Its new Neapolitan site is a timely reminder of the mutually beneficial relationship between art and finance.
In full flow

A merger between two televisual giants is offering the Spanish-speaking world a streaming service to rival Netflix. Could the next ‘Squid Game’ be filmed in the shadows of the Sierra Madre?
Move closer

From a Canadian popstar’s emotional return to a beloved portraitist’s political roots, we survey the season’s cultural highlights.
Remote chance

Amid the harsh landscape near Australia’s Bass Strait, a farmhouse offers intimacy and true escape.
Hidden treasures

On a quiet residential street in Japan’s historic capital stands a living monument to the city’s coveted craft traditions.
Inner sanctum

As we sink into cosy armchairs, switch on lamps and rethink our work set-ups, we pick out the latest pieces that promise comfort and warmth.
Bright sparks

There are companies out there that take lighting very, very seriously – and rightly so. Good lighting isn’t just important for aesthetic purposes; it can also help to boost our mood and even our health. Here’s how.
Basic instinct

Architecture practice Studio KO favours simple methods and materials, even when they’re working with star clients.
Community centre

Burkinabè architect Diébédo Francis Kéré sees his projects as hubs for nearby residents, even enlisting their help to build them.
Double vision

Sydney Modern will be the city’s largest cultural opening since the its iconic opera house. We meet the duo behind the design.
Blurred lines

A meeting of minds for workplace-furniture titan MillerKnoll is seeing the firm expanding ever more into employees’ homes. Is this the future of the office?
Meet the family

Picks from The Monocle Shop.
Making history

Following its founding principle of ‘craft in motion’, Italian luxury house Bottega Veneta is combining artisanal tradition and a playful sense of modernity to stake its place in fashion’s highest echelons.
Hammer time

Bulgari has become a major player in luxury timepieces. Monocle meets its watch-making team to find out what makes them tick.
Wearing in

From the very best in running gear (and running routes) to hip fashion meccas in the coolest part of town, via snug and stylish shoes and eye-catching accessories, our global gamut of gear is sure to fit right in with your autumnal adventures.
Layer up

As the air chills, outerwear comes into its own. Match coats and jackets of all hues and fabrics with fun and functional accessories to keep you warm on the go.

Fashion: Briefing / Global

Wearing in

From the very best in running gear (and running routes) to hip fashion meccas in the coolest part of town, via snug and stylish shoes and eye-catching accessories, our global gamut of gear is sure to fit right in with your autumnal adventures.

Edited by: Natalie Theodosi

The North Face Sphere
Japan

In Tokyo, running culture is growing in style and Japanese sports company Goldwin recently opened North Face’s first running shop on Harajuku’s Meiji Street. The store, The North Face Sphere, was designed by Tokyo-based architecture studio Sawada Hashimura. Sitting alongside other North Face branches, the five-storey building is home to smart technical gear, footwear and accessories. The highlight is the 141 (One for One) service that allows customers to customise the colours and adjust the sizing of their running and training wear.

The North Face Sphere, complete with rooftop terrace

The building – a jog away from Yoyogi Park – also has a dedicated events space and a rooftop terrace. “We didn’t want to just sell products,” says project manager Hiromichi Tanaka. Once a week, there is a running event or workshop with professional athletes. “Exercise such as walking, running and climbing help us achieve a healthier body and soul,” adds Tanaka. “We want to provide that lifestyle.”

Theory x Lucas Ossendrijver
USA

Dutch designer Lucas Ossendrijver is a name to know. He worked as the menswear designer at French luxury house Lanvin for more than 14 years and one of his first solo projects is a series of capsule collections intended for city life with contemporary label Theory. “People are always going places and the way they dress needs to reflect this,” he says. Flannel, gabardine and recycled technical fabrics made in Japanese and Italian mills have been cut into suits and easygoing parkas in autumnal shades – a combination of pragmatism and elegance.
theory.com

CQP
Sweden

Swedish shoe brand CQP is expanding its scope beyond its signature trainer with a new range of handsome boots. Designed in the label’s Stockholm studio and handmade in Portugal, the shoes come in tones of bottle green, cognac and grey. They are made from supple Italian suede, paired with lightweight yet grippy soles. We have our eye on the Sabulo and Saxum ankle boots that will serve you well on tricky terrain.

Samsøe Samsøe x Gore-Tex
Denmark

As temperatures drop, Samsøe Samsøe is launching a collaboration with Gore-Tex, with basics in blacks, greys and khakis. The label tried to strike a “balance between performance and classic silhouettes, updated for everyday life,” says Gitte Wetter, head of menswear.
samose.com

Valextra
Italy

Italian brand Valextra has released a series of animal-shaped accessories, including this panda purse, made from sturdy grain leather and featuring Valextra’s signature lacquered edges.
valextra.com

Anouk
Vienna

Vienna now has a homegrown fashion mecca thanks to Anouk, which has recently opened in the city’s hip 7th district. Founded by Vincent Unden-Dimou and Manuel Haring (and named after Unden-Dimou’s three-year-old daughter), the boutique carries a selection of clothes, accessories and perfumes from the likes of Lacoste, Arte Antwerp and local label Christina Seewald. Here, Haring, who leads the shop’s creative direction, explains its raison d’être.

How did you pick the new boutique’s location?
The 7th is the creative district of Vienna and the community here is very tight-knit. The entrepreneurs in the area and the people who own the restaurants and bars are all our friends. There are richer districts in Vienna but people here are more careful with spending their money on things that they actually identify with.

What drives your buying strategy?
We wanted to bring in community-driven brands that have a long legacy or a strong culture and are still led by their founders – not bought by big fashion conglomerates. This feels a bit more like the neighbourhood we live in.

What are the highlights in your assortment for the coming season?
I’m looking forward to introducing footwear brand Salomon, the new collection of Medea bags from Milan, and Swedish label Our Legacy. We’re looking for brands that are trustworthy and constantly setting the tone, instead of chasing trends.
anouk-store.com

Editor’s Letter

The Opener

Observation: Dinner with an MP

Observation: Reptile rescue

The view from: Naoto Fukasawa

Star stays

Counter culture

Style and substance

Baked good

In the swing

Affairs

Business

Culture

Urbanism & Design

Who’s keeping the lights on?

Finding Nebo

Up in the air

Back on track

Is the way we work really changing?

Glass half full

Common currency

In full flow

Move closer

Remote chance

Hidden treasures

Inner sanctum

Bright sparks

Basic instinct

Community centre

Double vision

Blurred lines

Meet the family

Making history

Hammer time

Wearing in

Layer up

Form and function

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