Watch this space

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.
Talking points

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

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.
Ghosts of the past

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.
Berth control

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.
The show must go on

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.
Venture forth

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.
Muddy waters

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.
Sleeping giants

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?
In safe hands

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.
Quick off the blocks

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.
French connection

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?
Made with care

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.
Gaudí regalvanised

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.
A little respect

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.
Style council

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.
A fine beast

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.
A taste of things to come

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.
Here to stay

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

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.

Rosewood x Monocle / Siena

Q&A – Emiko Davies

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.

Q: What was your favourite thing about Tuscany when you arrived?
A: Everything is steeped in history and tradition; I didn’t grow up with medieval buildings and renaissance paintings. Tuscany is blessed with beautiful landscapes, and so many towns to discover and fall in love with. Each has its own identity, its own food and a different character.

Q: What is your favourite time of year in Tuscany?
A: Autumn, because lots of regional specialities are autumnal. Truffles, chestnuts, mushrooms, wild boar: so many ingredients I associate with Tuscan food are great to eat in the cold weather. Though Tuscany is very warm, so many environments are cosy – as is the people’s welcome.

Q: Any favourite Tuscan recipes?
A: Schiacciata d’uva: a Tuscan focaccia made in September during the grape harvest, when the wine grapes are pushed into the dough. Because the grapes have seeds in them it has a crunchy texture; with sugar on top it’s delicious. And you can only get it at that time of year.

San Gimignano

Tuscan countryside

Podere il casale

Bagno vignoni

Emiko Davies

Food at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

The villa bedroom from the outside

And from the inside

Where next?

Davies’ favourite places to soak up some culture and delectable produce.

(01) Podere il Casale
Pienza’s pecorino is a much fêted delicacy. At this farmhouse, a Swiss couple have been producing and selling the tangy cheese for years and only raw, organic milk is used. The casale’s goat’s cheese and ricotta are also a speciality – but don’t leave without having tried their oil and honey too.

Note: Come early in the morning to get a look at the method used to make the cheese – and feel free to take your time over the tasting cheeseboard.

(02) Galleria Continua
This cutting-edge space in the middle of the charming walled town of San Gimignano is one of Galleria Continua’s four unusual locations: the other outposts are to be found in Beijing, Les Moulins and Havana. Opened in 1990 inside a former cinema, this gallery brings ultra-contemporary art to a town with a rich history.

Note: Artists from Brazil to Saudi Arabia (as well as Italy) bring their installations to this charming space.

(03) Bagno Vignoni
Most Italian towns revolve around a piazza but not Bagno Vignoni: here the place of a central square is taken up by a large thermal pool. Pilgrims and travellers have been coming to these thermal waters for centuries and though bathing in the pool is not permitted nowadays, there are plenty of thermal-spring spots in which to warm your cockles around town.

Note: Nothing beats a view of the pool at sunrise, when the heat rising from the water condenses in atmospheric steam.

What a trip

Davies’ tour begins at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, among the hills of the Montalcino countryside. In the kitchen of this beautifully preserved estate she tries her hand at cooking with regional produce – and gets a taste of the wine produced in the ground’s vineyard. From there to the charming towns of Pienza, San Gimignano and Bagno Vignoni – all a short drive away. Follow her journey on monocle.com/film/.

Watch this space

Talking points

The state of independence

Ghosts of the past

Berth control

The show must go on

Venture forth

Muddy waters

Sleeping giants

In safe hands

Quick off the blocks

French connection

Made with care

Gaudí regalvanised

A little respect

Style council

A fine beast

A taste of things to come

Here to stay

Stay classy

All the fun of the fair

Cold calling

Just keep moving

Direct current

The city that shines

Q&A – Emiko Davies

Taking the pulse

Teaching the world to sing

Yoshoku, what’s up?

Want more stories like these in your inbox?