Looking for a plan

What happens when urban planning goes wrong? The answer is Dongguan, a metropolis hastily erected on the back of a 1980s economic boom. With poor transport and half-empty shopping centres, life is a struggle. But authorities may finally be taking note.
Hard-task masters

This is Monocle’s homage to the city workers charged with some of the toughest tasks in the world, from the nitty gritty of slum clearance in India, to dealing with Cairo’s rubbish problem and working in Taipei’s animal shelter. We tracked them down to hear their creative solutions to the challenges.
Five city bosses

One has the task of turning round Japan’s only bankrupt city. Another is trying to rebuild a war-torn capital where electricity is a scarce luxury. They are all, however, motivated by a desire to improve the day-to-day lives of their fellow citizens. Monocle profiles some of the world’s most challenged mayors.
Going south

Montpellier is the fastest-growing city in France and for Monocle it ranks as one the best cities for business. It supports new ventures, with many hi-tech companies setting up there, and has an enviable quality of life to boot.
The money mystery

There’s a link between quality of life and the money in your pocket but nobody quite understands this complicated marriage. One thing we do know for sure, whatever the question, the answer should not be Luanda.
Patron familias

Sometimes it’s not civic officials who shape the city but passionate families. In Sydney the Kaldors’ cultural philanthropy is enriching their city.
Voice of the people

Every city has a local media star – perhaps a television anchor, newspaper columnist, singer or author – who is part of its very fabric. Content with staying on home turf, they are an institution, breaking down the anomalies and absurdities of their metropolis for a loyal public.
Make, do and vend

San Francisco may be small in size, but it has always had big ambition. Now it’s leading the way by putting small manufacturers and retailers at the heart of its urban agenda.
Breaking the rules

The codes of good urban planning are common sense. But sometimes those rules are there to be broken and, as in these five examples, the results can work surprisingly well.
Inside the box

Habitat 67 proves that buildings created for events – in this case Montréal’s Expo of 1967 – can continue to be useful. We meet three residents and talk to the architect about why the project has been such a success.
Breathing space

When Monocle and sister company Winkreative had to hunt for a bigger London base, they opted for greenery, mid-century architecture and a central location. Welcome to Midori House.
Back to the grind

Around the world a new generation of coffee shops are becoming community players. We meet the baristas who make their ’hoods and get their urban picks.
Shelf obsession

For quality of life a local deli can make a real difference. These are Monocle’s five favourite food stores from around the world that are offering that bit extra, from the Sydney shop with its own homemade brands to an Italian ‘drogheria’ turned grocer. Make a note of their recipes and bestselling products too.

Top 25 cities: map and rankings / Global

The wait is over

Welcome to the fifth annual Monocle survey of top 25 liveable cities around the world. Here’s how they rank.

Illustrator: Stuart Daly

Helsinki
A city that is genuinely and fundamentally bettering itself, this well-designed capital in the north leaps up to number one for bravery alone.
Zürich
Still the ideal place to live and work (and grab summertime swims in your lunch break), Zürich retains a spot in the top three.
Copenhagen
Its ongoing commitment to being the world’s greenest city continues to gather momentum, despite Denmark’s slight lurch to the right.
Munich
Last year’s winner slips out of the top three not for doing anything wrong but not doing anything new.
Melbourne
The perfect balance of balmy summers and serious business, Melbourne is finally addressing its shortage of housing.
Vienna
The sleepy fairytale city in the middle of Europe has toughened up with two of the continent’s bravest urban regeneration projects.
Sydney
A burgeoning business district and an increasingly profitable retail sector, sunny-side-up Sydney continues to shine.
Berlin
We’re still waiting for a world-class city to emerge from under the tarpaulin and construction works, but there’s plenty to enjoy in the meantime.
Tokyo
The next 12 months will be a testing time for Tokyo, yet its population has the problem-solving bravura to deal with its troubled situation competently, punctually and innovatively.
Madrid
Stifling summers and high unemployment doesn’t deter the Spanish capital’s can-do attitude, as it unveils a series of urban projects set to transform the city.
Stockholm
Lean and green Stockholm needs to take a few more strides forward architecturally to get back in the top.
Paris
This year’s unique electric car rental scheme is set to be the game-changer, which the city’s Vélib’ concept once was, yet (thankfully) little else changes in Paris.
Auckland
Last year, the city’s seven small councils unified to create one dynamic force that is set to improve quality of life for Aucklanders even more.
Barcelona
Spending cuts are set to tighten their grip on this Mediterranean city, yet its happy-go-lucky spirit will no doubt keep it afloat.
Singapore
The population is on the rise and the country’s politics and tolerance are slowly improving. Changi’s tops too.
Fukuoka
Better connected than ever with the new Hakata station, Japan’s sunshine city is firming up its position as one of the country’s key conurbations.
Hong Kong
One of two new entrants in our list, the island comfortably slips in on the grounds of its connectivity, business edge and its sheer dare.
Portland
The outpost in the US northwest sits even more comfortably in our index this year, nominated for its transport developments and ongoing commitment to getting green.
Honolulu
All that sun hasn’t gone to Honolulu’s head, and the city is on track to becoming the ideal business hub between Asia and America. APEC’s there this autumn.
Vancouver
The Winter Olympics jumpstarted Vancouver and it has proved a hit as faras the finer things in life, yet the city has yet to address its lazy attitude to contemporary architecture.
Kyoto
It may not have embraced the future as readily as its younger brother Tokyo, but Japan’s ancient capital still charms.
Hamburg
Germany’s second-largest city ploughs on with its sprawling HafenCity development, yet the city needs to protect its cultural sector.
Lisbon
Portugal’s had a tough year, yet Lisbon is bouncing back with an entrepreneurial spirit and by making the most of its links with superpower Brazil.
Montréal
Plenty to commend it, Montréal needs to address its transport problems: it’s one of the most miserable places to commute in.
Seattle
A new entry in our index, the bustling home of Starbucks has plenty going for it, including a brave new light-rail system.

The wait is over

The liveable cities index 2011

Almost there

Looking for a plan

Hard-task masters

Five city bosses

Going south

The money mystery

Patron familias

Voice of the people

Make, do and vend

Breaking the rules

Inside the box

Breathing space

Back to the grind

Shelf obsession

Can he fix it too?

Europe Briefing

Americas Briefing

Africa/Middle East Briefing

Oceania Briefing

Asia Briefing

Local heroes

Ideas to steal

The art of summer

Design/Architecture Briefing

Fashion Briefing

Prom party

50 things to improve your life

Alice Waters

Expo 45: Rome

Expo 45: Seoul

Expo 45: Buenos Aires

Expo 45: Kagoshima

Expo 45: Casablanca

Observation

Paradise in the city

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