Monocle’s researchers have spent the past months putting the world’s leading cities to the test to find the best places for you to make your base. Last year Copenhagen was the winner of our survey but in 2009 the award goes to Zürich.

Do cities have a sell-by date? And if they no longer feel fresh and vital, should we abandon them? That’s what’s happening in Russia. So should the burghers of New Orleans and Detroit do the same?

These outposts may not score highly on the Monocle city metrics – they’re not very well connected for starters. But they all offer a quality of life we would recommend.

Obama is allocating $8bn for high-speed rail – but much of the expertise will come from Europe. Monocle went on the euro-rails with US transport secretary Ray LaHood as he sought inspiration and contacts. Then on page 76 we look at nine more urban visionaries.

Global property markets may be undergoing a brutal shakedown but big corporations and sovereign wealth funds have not stopped shopping. And they each seem to have a favourite city to invest in. That’s why LA’s skyline is increasingly being shaped by landlords in Seoul.

Identikit suburban projects and architects without imagination have sullied the reputation of property development but Monocle has tracked down five firms putting passion, innovation and social conscience back into the world.

If your town needs a tourism boost, there is nothing more likely to bring in the punters than a blockbusting film set on your street. No wonder cities are offering film companies big incentives for a moment on the casting couch.

Engineering company Arup is the name that connects the Sydney Opera House to the proposed Guggenheim museum in Abu Dhabi. The owner-operated firm’s pioneering staff are the go-to guys if you want to construct the impossible.

We have fallen for elements of urban living in many different cities and have often dreamed of being given a city block where we could bring them together. Now with the help of a team of leading architects, we have done just that.

Cities are combating urban sprawl by adding another layer – on their roofs. We profile the best projects, from sky-high soccer pitches to cinemas.

In New York, Tobruk, Foshan, Beirut and Stockholm there are pioneering architectural projects that will transform their cities. We take a look at the grand plans.

Stockholm starts doing it for the kids, Helsinki talks rubbish, and Turkey stops smoking.

Mexico City's taxi fleet plans to go green, all change at Chattanooga, and how Twitter is helping track the spread of illness through cities.

Ouagadougou is spruced up by an army of low-cost cleaners, Congo's governor gets to work on a failing region, plus Abu Dhabi's new transport system.

Construction begins on Australia's first carbon-zero office building, while in New Zealand a revamp is under way to stop Christchurch's wanderlusty youngsters from upping sticks. Plus, how New Zealanders are catching up the French as the world's longest lunchers.

Why English-style village shops are popping up in rural China and how the hutongs of Beijing may be given a reprieve. Plus, the latest figures on who is living the longest.

Monocle’s summer arts calendar creams off the pick of the albums to line up, the books to take to the beach, the shows to saunter round and the movies to get to grips with in the evening – preferably in an open-air cinema in Melbourne.

Visvim's sole revival, bedtime treats from Matters of Leisure and a Swiss trunk cal: Monocle selects for summer days and nights.

What’s the future of the city? Eleven writers – urbanists, authors, academics, architects and Monocle editors – look at the battles and pleasures of metropolitan living. From the empty highways of Detroit to the sewers of London, an Istanbul street to Ancient Greece, it’s a survey of urban hope and possibility.

From a Beijing air-quality expert to an Italian architect, these urban planning visionaries have ideas with the potential to transform our urban world – and soon.

What makes a city a great place to do business in? How important are parks for a lunchtime run and clean air to breathe? Or is it more about wi-fi access and corporate taxes? Monocle asks five corporate leaders where they like doing business.

Urban beach clubs call for clothing that doesn’t sacrifice elegance in the pursuit of sun worship. Opt for neatly tailored swimming shorts that can equally be worn for a stroll round town once you’ve dried off – or just to the bar and back.

Sometimes it takes just one retailer to unite an entire neighbourhood and restore a sense of old-fashioned community between residents and other shop owners, restaurateurs and civil servants. We’ve found 10 doing just that.

Our 2009 global round-up of the people, pursuits, places and pets to improve the way you live, work, rest, commute and communicate.

What would win your heart – an alluring first impression or a tempting parting glance? For Tyler Brûlé it was the latter that had him dreaming of relocating the Monocle team to Berlin and bagging a summer retreat.