Contributors

Edmund Sumner
Photographer
— design

Sumner became interested in photography and architecture from a young age, flicking through the pages of Domus and Architectural Review in his father’s London design studio. We dispatched him to Mexico’s Valle de Bravo for this issue. “It’s often described as the Mexican Hamptons, where some of the world’s finest architects have left their mark,” he says. “I have a deep connection to its design culture and have recently been working on Casa Mexicana, a new book exploring some of the country’s most extraordinary homes.”

Where is your ideal neighbourhood?
It would have to be in Mexico City, ideally in one of the beautifully preserved art deco homes in Roma or Condesa. The city’s creative scene is thriving and there is an unmistakable sense of optimism in the air.

Sophie Glover
Illustrator
— fashion

Working from a studio down a cobblestone street in the UK capital, Glover spends much of her time sketching the high-energy spaces of the city’s busy kitchens. For this issue of monocle, she turned her attention to another world of constant motion: fashion. “I made quick drawings of the key players at London Fashion Week, documenting the dynamism from behind the scenes,” she says.

A favourite piece of residential architecture?
Golden Lane Estate near the Barbican. There’s an amazing openness to the architecture there. I would love to have a large kitchen table for Sunday lunches in one of the double-height apartments.

Keerthana Kunnath
Photographer
— design

Photographer Kunnath splits her time between London and Kerala, where she uses her medium to initiate conversations around sociocultural issues such as sexuality and womanhood. We asked her to train her lens on Jaipur Rugs in Rajasthan for this month’s issue. “The women who create the ‘Manchaha’ rugs do it as a form of self expression, without following patterns,” she says. “Every rug speaks to their individuality.”

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I’d love to be close to the sea – just like where I grew up. My ideal home would be filled with art, especially pieces from artisans in India, which I have been collecting on my travels. I also have a deep love for old, rustic things; objects with history and character.

Nyasha Oliver
Writer
— agenda

Writing our report on Amapinight, a clubbing event that celebrates South African music and culture in Tokyo, allowed London-born writer Oliver to further immerse herself in life in the Japanese capital, which she now calls home. “I came to see DJ Nasthug but stayed for the self-proclaimed ‘vibes-up’ feeling that the hosts are known for – and they delivered,” she says. When she’s not on the dance floor, Oliver spends her time writing about the experiences of black people in Asia and creating new recipes from her home kitchen.

What’s your vision for the perfect living space?
It would ideally be somewhere by the beach or in a city such as Taipei or Tokyo. And it would need to have a games room and library.

Alessandro Mitola
Photographer
— culture

Italian photographer Mitola lives and works in Milan, where he captures the city’s design, architecture and visual-culture scenes. For this issue we dispatched him to Vila 31 in Tirana, the former home of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha. “It still maintains its mysterious aura,” says Mitola of the building, which is now host to an artist-residency programme. “By opening the once-inaccessible structure to artists and creatives, Albania is confronting its past.”

How would you describe your dream home?
A house with big, open spaces, full of large windows that allow light to flood the rooms. It would want it to feel open while retaining a sense of intimacy.