Refurbish, repurpose and revive are the watchwords for 2018. From a former cinema to Balkan bunkers and cat-sized couches, we’ve picked out the projects that are putting innovative thinking to the fore.

From US midterms to political trouble-makers, we look at the events, nations and people poised to influence and define 2018.

As the issue of Catalan sovereignty remains a point of crisis in Spain, we chart the timeline of that chaotic referendum and what it might mean for other regions seeking to go it alone.

Belgium has opened an impressive new embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But this soft-power flourish will struggle to repair relations with the old colonial master – especially when the DRC is set on a worrying course for 2018.

Fiona Wilson reporting from Setouchi: Most cruise-ship owners have gone for boats as large as city blocks. But in Japan a big player is using architects to make the cruise a truly bespoke experience with only a tiny number of guest rooms.

Amie Ferris-Rotman reporting from Moscow: The Russian capital’s suburban cinemas crumbled with the USSR – but now two brothers are reviving the buildings and reinventing them as community hubs.

Matt Alagiah reporting on start-ups: So your dream of setting up in business has long foundered on the lack of an actual idea? Allow us to propose 15 enterprising concepts that fill gaping gaps in the market. Now quit your day job.

With eight million tonnes of plastic – not to mention other debris – ending up in the water every year, estimates suggest that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean by weight than fish. This grisly notion has spurred activists and entrepreneurs into action, in an effort to clean up. It’s a grand undertaking to say the least but these five plans prove that there may yet be hope for calmer waters ahead.

Sophie Grove reporting on revivals: Many successful companies have been scuppered by circumstance over the years but in some cases there’s an argument for resurrection. Why not bring back these fine examples?

Digital archives are no replacement for the real thing – it’s only in a private visit to a secret hoard that history, humanity and passion are let loose to inspire, inform and entertain again.

Fast-paced drama, twists and even some geopolitical intrigue – no, not the latest Netflix series but the 24-hour Olympic Channel. And with the forthcoming PyeongChang Games, the broadcaster hopes to do more than just run rings around its rivals.

Now that the celebratory bunting has been taken down and the much-hyped Louvre Abu Dhabi is finally open for business, what does the future hold? Is it an oasis of culture in a desert of extremism, a building that embodies global understanding or a theme park of airbrushed internationalism put together by a French state keeping its eyes on the prize?

Got a civic project that not only needs to look smart but also have people’s best interests at heart? You need a Dutch architect.

The architecture of Antoni Gaudí has branded this city but until now this masterpiece has been off-limits. As it finally reveals its secrets, it’s caught up in a Catalan identity crisis.

Japan’s penchant for knocking down old buildings is taking a back seat in one prefecture, where the modernist architecture could, with the right exposure, help boost tourism.

Jamie Waters reporting on future fashion: The next trend can be as much about political fluctuations as the latest tunes filling Tokyo dancefloors. We talk to industry leaders – and share our own thoughts – on the next big things.

Europe is bracing itself for the arrival of Gentle Monster, South Korea’s whackiest sunglasses brand, where the weird and wonderful shop designs complement the products on offer.

We’re more aware than ever of what we eat but have a tendency to think all too faddishly about it. Remember, our basic human needs haven’t required an overhaul, beyond a little moderation, for the past 200,000-odd years. Far from advising an insect-only diet or lauding lab-grown meat, our observations as to what products you’ll be eating more of in 2018 are of the common-sense variety.

James Chambers reporting from Laos: Meet Adrian Zecha, the 84-year-old industry veteran who’s setting out to redefine hospitality in 2018.

A California dream, a contemporary former storage space in Seoul and a quirky, station-side Parisian spot. We look in on three new hotels to try in early 2018.

Olma, Switzerland’s annual agriculture and nutrition tradeshow, has been going strong for 75 years. It’s how all nations should connect with their agrarian roots – and bet on a pig race or two.

We seldom stop to think about how our food gets from its source to our plates but, when we do, we realise the mammoth effort involved. Luckily technology is revolutionising the industry and temperature-controlled cargo is going places like never before.

Canberra-born cookbook author Emiko Davies tells us of her love for Tuscan food: we catch up during her stay at the historic estate of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.

In this, the first of an eight-part series between Audi and Monocle, we embark on a journey to discover the future of mobility in our cities. We start with a focus on electric cars and how urban environments need to adapt to accommodate them.

Home to visionary entrepreneurs and world-class architecture and infrastructure, this ambitious Australian city has earned a global reputation for business, tourism and education while boasting a laidback culture and the highest quality of life.

From probing the state of globalisation to exploring the political landscape in Mexico – via tips about how not to lose your mind during this particularly intense news cycle – our writers weigh up the issues of the year ahead.

Meet the musical maestros making waves: an Italian superstar in the making, an ethereal R&B singer in Los Angeles and a springy dance-pop diva via the UK and Japan.

Aya Nishimura with recipes from Japan: Asian cuisine that riffs on western comfort food: that’s what’s up. Here we cook up some katsu curry, ‘omu’ rice and potato croquettes – and encourage you to do the same.