Editor’s letter
With winter’s festivities now behind us, the year is getting going in earnest, which makes this the perfect moment to reflect on the fundamentals of what we hope to achieve. That’s why, this issue, we ponder the deceptively simple question of what makes a place ‘work’.The Opener
Deceptive dinosaurs and desperate Australian estate agents. Plus: why some of Jair Bolsonaro’s fans are appealing to a higher authority.Original vision
Pioneering photographer Ming Smith, who broke down barriers as a black female artist, earns a well-deserved exhibition at Moma.Romancing the stone
The historic buildings of London, including such landmarks as Buckingham Palace, owe a lot to a dedicated team of stone-carvers and their skills.Outsider art
With a world-class sculpture garden and a new community farm, the curatorial team at Minnesota’s Walker Art Center is finding novel ways to connect with the city – and reimagine its future.
Affairs
Andrew Mueller surveys the military hardware that will reshape modern warfare in the years to come.Business
Electric car charging in California, the Alpine snowbike boom and a leading London stationer.Culture
Arabic news in Sweden, a bold Swiss art atelier and San Diego’s groundbreaking acoustic design.Urbanism
Sydney’s most important cultural venue since the Opera House, an Álvaro Siza watch and designer Ron Arad’s approach to work.
Human values
The Annex isn’t just a calm, warm environment where politicians work – it’s also Finnish to the core.Hope floats
On the waters of the North Sea is Floating Office Rotterdam, an carbon-neutral structure that embodies the need to build better.Team building
With its open, egalitarian design and a layout that promotes easy political discussion, Seattle City Hall is a building that can actively shape public policy.Train of thought
The trains soon to be arriving at Vienna’s U-Bahn stations are defined by a consideration of every detail in a passenger’s journey. Quite right too – they’ll be on the rails for decades.Grand Designs
The towns of Grand Valley are shining new beacons for businesses abandoning expensive US citiesPit stop
Morocco’s pioneering use of renewable energy is helping it to shift gears to become a car-manufacturing hot spot.Full of beans
A clever brand recipe has created a rapidly expanding coffee chain. The question now is: how far can it go?Setting the stage
Part of the city’s scenery in more ways than one, Vega has risen from its socialist roots to provide the perfect home for all kinds of music.Broadcast views
Italy’s largest rolling news channel now sits within a Renzo Piano-designed ‘workshop’ TV studio.Let’s dance
Christine SullivanSound of silence
An isolated recording studio on a small Norwegian island offers inspiration for busy minds.Shared Vision
Artists thrive on community. And that’s exactly what Mohilef Studios has created in the City of Angels.Golden touch
Newly renovated and redesigned, 195 Piccadilly gives Bafta the space the academy has always deserved.Domestic harmony
A power couple of Catalan design has commissioned a new home – and the result is a celebration of their scene and its people.Open kitchen
A new restaurant is mixing up the Moroccan food scene by combining traditional design and French flair. Time to tuck in.Streets ahead
Learning the rules of the road can be fun. This traffic school helps kids to move in the right direction.Ring the changes
Luxury shops can often resemble department stores. Cartier’s local approach is a jewel in its crown.Freedom of expression
Turin is a city with many bold and experimental mid-century residential developments. Using these buildings as an inspiration, a new generation of architects is continuing to push the envelope.All in hand
The handmade principles that guide tailoring brand Lerici are reflected throughout its set-up.Brick’s blessing
At this huge ecclesiastical spectacle, it’s small details that count: its five million bricks were sanded by hand. writerFresh start
Prepare for spring with a new-look wardrobe that prioritises clean lines, crisp colours and a relaxed fit.
Southern comfort
For decades, Charleston has been known for its booming food scene and historic, mansion-lined downtown. But it’s only recently that the South Carolina city has received a fresh wave of spruced-up new hotel openings offering a platform from which to explore the low country in high comfort. Here’s our round-up of new and notable openings.On the table
A true winter warmer with an umami punch, the return of a storied Milanese restaurant to its home turf and much more: sink your teeth into this month’s culinary highlights from around the world.Natural talent
The young owners of two ventures in Palma de Mallorca are uncorking success with their passion for natural and low-intervention wine.Cornering the market
Williamsburg Market, a welcome addition to New York’s culinary scene, is serving up a buffet of global flavours in one of the city’s buzziest neigbourhoods.Fresh stays
We present the finest hotels for your perusal this month, from a former Iranian embassy in Belgrade to a cinema-themed opening in Tbilisi. Plus: new shops that make responsible retail a pleasure.Crunch time
End on a high with delicious guava buns from Mexico’s Panadería Rosetta.
Monocle’s February issue is all about celebrating places that work, whether that’s a parliament, home or metro carriage. From a floating office to a school teaching children the rules of the road, we profile the locations that look good and work well for those who use them. Plus: Charleston’s hospitality boom and why you should learn Russian.
Issue 160
February 2023
Other
Editor’s letter
With winter’s festivities now behind us, the year is getting going in earnest, which makes this the perfect moment to reflect on the fundamentals of what we hope to achieve. That’s why, this issue, we ponder the deceptively simple question of what makes a place ‘work’.The Opener
Deceptive dinosaurs and desperate Australian estate agents. Plus: why some of Jair Bolsonaro’s fans are appealing to a higher authority.Original vision
Pioneering photographer Ming Smith, who broke down barriers as a black female artist, earns a well-deserved exhibition at Moma.Romancing the stone
The historic buildings of London, including such landmarks as Buckingham Palace, owe a lot to a dedicated team of stone-carvers and their skills.Outsider art
With a world-class sculpture garden and a new community farm, the curatorial team at Minnesota’s Walker Art Center is finding novel ways to connect with the city – and reimagine its future.
The Agenda: Global briefings
Affairs
Andrew Mueller surveys the military hardware that will reshape modern warfare in the years to come.Business
Electric car charging in California, the Alpine snowbike boom and a leading London stationer.Culture
Arabic news in Sweden, a bold Swiss art atelier and San Diego’s groundbreaking acoustic design.Urbanism
Sydney’s most important cultural venue since the Opera House, an Álvaro Siza watch and designer Ron Arad’s approach to work.
Places that work: Global survey
Human values
The Annex isn’t just a calm, warm environment where politicians work – it’s also Finnish to the core.Hope floats
On the waters of the North Sea is Floating Office Rotterdam, an carbon-neutral structure that embodies the need to build better.Team building
With its open, egalitarian design and a layout that promotes easy political discussion, Seattle City Hall is a building that can actively shape public policy.Train of thought
The trains soon to be arriving at Vienna’s U-Bahn stations are defined by a consideration of every detail in a passenger’s journey. Quite right too – they’ll be on the rails for decades.Grand Designs
The towns of Grand Valley are shining new beacons for businesses abandoning expensive US citiesPit stop
Morocco’s pioneering use of renewable energy is helping it to shift gears to become a car-manufacturing hot spot.Full of beans
A clever brand recipe has created a rapidly expanding coffee chain. The question now is: how far can it go?Setting the stage
Part of the city’s scenery in more ways than one, Vega has risen from its socialist roots to provide the perfect home for all kinds of music.Broadcast views
Italy’s largest rolling news channel now sits within a Renzo Piano-designed ‘workshop’ TV studio.Let’s dance
Christine SullivanSound of silence
An isolated recording studio on a small Norwegian island offers inspiration for busy minds.Shared Vision
Artists thrive on community. And that’s exactly what Mohilef Studios has created in the City of Angels.Golden touch
Newly renovated and redesigned, 195 Piccadilly gives Bafta the space the academy has always deserved.Domestic harmony
A power couple of Catalan design has commissioned a new home – and the result is a celebration of their scene and its people.Open kitchen
A new restaurant is mixing up the Moroccan food scene by combining traditional design and French flair. Time to tuck in.Streets ahead
Learning the rules of the road can be fun. This traffic school helps kids to move in the right direction.Ring the changes
Luxury shops can often resemble department stores. Cartier’s local approach is a jewel in its crown.Freedom of expression
Turin is a city with many bold and experimental mid-century residential developments. Using these buildings as an inspiration, a new generation of architects is continuing to push the envelope.All in hand
The handmade principles that guide tailoring brand Lerici are reflected throughout its set-up.Brick’s blessing
At this huge ecclesiastical spectacle, it’s small details that count: its five million bricks were sanded by hand. writerFresh start
Prepare for spring with a new-look wardrobe that prioritises clean lines, crisp colours and a relaxed fit.
Inventory & Expo: Where to go, buy and eat
Southern comfort
For decades, Charleston has been known for its booming food scene and historic, mansion-lined downtown. But it’s only recently that the South Carolina city has received a fresh wave of spruced-up new hotel openings offering a platform from which to explore the low country in high comfort. Here’s our round-up of new and notable openings.On the table
A true winter warmer with an umami punch, the return of a storied Milanese restaurant to its home turf and much more: sink your teeth into this month’s culinary highlights from around the world.Natural talent
The young owners of two ventures in Palma de Mallorca are uncorking success with their passion for natural and low-intervention wine.Cornering the market
Williamsburg Market, a welcome addition to New York’s culinary scene, is serving up a buffet of global flavours in one of the city’s buzziest neigbourhoods.Fresh stays
We present the finest hotels for your perusal this month, from a former Iranian embassy in Belgrade to a cinema-themed opening in Tbilisi. Plus: new shops that make responsible retail a pleasure.Crunch time
End on a high with delicious guava buns from Mexico’s Panadería Rosetta.
Expo
