Escape plan
The country will soon have a new capital if the president’s ambitious (some say unlikely) plan comes to fruition. While there’s an argument for leaving Jakarta, would a new seat of government be an improvement?In it together
In these digital times, loneliness – where it comes from and how to solve it – is a key issue for countries. Denmark, the world’s most enthusiastic participants in clubs and societies, may have the answer.Thought leaders
We explore the 2020 agenda for three globally focused think-tanks, from tackling alternative facts in the US through consensus and compromise to pushing the bigger picture in India – plus the future of Europe.The big news
Covering everything from entertainment and spirituality to politics and crime across a staggering 56 daily editions, the ‘Times of India’ is the most widely circulated English language newspaper in the world. Read all about it.Outside the box
It may now be standard to refuse a plastic bag at the supermarket, but with e-commerce on the rise, that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems caused by the disposable packaging industry. We meet the people with solutions.Greece is the word
After suffering an exodus of young talent in the decade following the debt crisis, Greece’s slowly improving economy is luring those expats home, armed with the education and determination to lead the country’s revival.The real thing
Other trade shows might be more glamorous but Expo Real is where Europe’s biggest and most significant deals are cut. We head to Bavaria to peer through the windows of real-estate’s future.Roll up, roll up!
The planet is getting warmer and urban residents as far north as Sweden are feeling the effects. Don’t sweat it: rather than reaching for the air-conditioning, try throwing some shade.Talk to my agent
In an age where self-promotion is the norm and many look for a direct way to success through social media, there’s still immense value in having a person on your side who knows how to navigate the industry. We speak to four agents about how their role has changed – and what’s on the horizon.High fidelity
As venues for audiophiles take off in global cities, with a heavy nod to the jazz-kissa of Tokyo, we explore three places where vinyl collections are played on some of the world’s best analogue equipment – with strong spirits and wine lists to match.Calling the shots
Its émigrés helped to shape the global film industry and now the country itself is becoming a cinema and TV production hub. So how is Hungary earning its starring role as the Hollywood of Europe?Open book
The Finnish capital’s new public library was the result of an anonymous open competition. As other cities look for a less ‘starchitect’ future, it shows what can be achieved with a little democracy.Back to the future
Our modern cities have ever-evolving needs. But sometimes putting a new spin on an old idea might just fit the bill, whether the aim is to tackle climate change or simply entertain.Different class
Recognising the impact that a school’s design can have on a child’s education, Swiss architects are leading the field in creating more accommodating institutions. We visit three that make the grade.Talking threads
It’s an industry where there’s always plenty to talk about. We brought together a fashion designer, a PR guru and a menswear buyer to discuss what direction it’s going in – and the challenges it faces.Taking stock
E-commerce has had a transformative effect on city centres but now the booming demand for warehouses to speed-up last-mile deliveries is set to bring another round of dramatic change to our urban landscape.We’re sold
With the right ingredients, physical shops can not only survive but thrive in today’s climate. The retailers on these pages show what you can do with a little imagination, an eye for quality and a genuine desire to look after your customers.C’est chic
Overlooked for decades as French diners sought ever more outlandish haute cuisine, ‘bouillons’ are enjoying a revival. So what is so special about these bustling restaurants that serve simple homely food? We pull up a chair and take a bite.From the ground up
Irish TV chef and food writer Darina Allen has trained generations of chefs at her Ballymaloe cookery school but fears a loss of skills in the kitchen. She talks public health, the perils of oat milk and the agrarian revolution.Critical mass
Restaurant openings can buoy neighbourhoods and help set a city’s culinary agenda. As such we asked a few of our favourite food writers for the inside scoop on some of the launches to look out for in the year ahead.Best of both worlds
The Halekulani hotel is a dream destination for its Japanese guests, with just one drawback: it’s in Honolulu. So the owners decided to reproduce its many charms in a paradisal landscape closer to home.Self awareness
As affluent modern travellers seek a boost for brain and body, hotels are now mindful of the wellness boom’s potential. We find out how Asaya at Rosewood Hong Kong accommodates this feel-good factor.
Small packages
Looking to escape the metropolis to downsize? Our global network of correspondents have come up with a definitive list of the world’s best small cities, which provide the right balance between opportunities for rich cultural experiences on your doorstep and that all-important space to breathe.Let’s make it a good one
A new year is the time for bringing out your best stationery and writing a list. Ours is a rundown of things that are set to make life better in the coming year, whether it’s a clever new business or a cultural opening, a flicker of improvement in a beleaguered metropolis or a city hall doing great things with public transport. We’ve also added some suggestions, from how to sleep well to how to improve on a gin and tonic. Here’s to a hopeful 2020.
Monocle’s look at the year ahead has landed. The Forecast takes the less-trodden path to find out what we can learn from the least lonely nation (Denmark) and the biggest English-language paper (in India). It also profiles the lively small cities we would happily call home (Boulder, Colorado, anyone?). Expect attire aplenty for the year to come and insights on the changing role of talent agents (they’re more important than ever), the buoyant fate of ‘bouillons’ in Paris and how Budapest became a bastion for the film industry. That and more besides are in Monocle’s fetching and forward-facing annual, available at monocle.com and on newsstands now.
The Forecast
issue 2020, January
At the front
Observation
Report
Escape plan
The country will soon have a new capital if the president’s ambitious (some say unlikely) plan comes to fruition. While there’s an argument for leaving Jakarta, would a new seat of government be an improvement?In it together
In these digital times, loneliness – where it comes from and how to solve it – is a key issue for countries. Denmark, the world’s most enthusiastic participants in clubs and societies, may have the answer.Thought leaders
We explore the 2020 agenda for three globally focused think-tanks, from tackling alternative facts in the US through consensus and compromise to pushing the bigger picture in India – plus the future of Europe.The big news
Covering everything from entertainment and spirituality to politics and crime across a staggering 56 daily editions, the ‘Times of India’ is the most widely circulated English language newspaper in the world. Read all about it.Outside the box
It may now be standard to refuse a plastic bag at the supermarket, but with e-commerce on the rise, that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems caused by the disposable packaging industry. We meet the people with solutions.Greece is the word
After suffering an exodus of young talent in the decade following the debt crisis, Greece’s slowly improving economy is luring those expats home, armed with the education and determination to lead the country’s revival.The real thing
Other trade shows might be more glamorous but Expo Real is where Europe’s biggest and most significant deals are cut. We head to Bavaria to peer through the windows of real-estate’s future.Roll up, roll up!
The planet is getting warmer and urban residents as far north as Sweden are feeling the effects. Don’t sweat it: rather than reaching for the air-conditioning, try throwing some shade.Talk to my agent
In an age where self-promotion is the norm and many look for a direct way to success through social media, there’s still immense value in having a person on your side who knows how to navigate the industry. We speak to four agents about how their role has changed – and what’s on the horizon.High fidelity
As venues for audiophiles take off in global cities, with a heavy nod to the jazz-kissa of Tokyo, we explore three places where vinyl collections are played on some of the world’s best analogue equipment – with strong spirits and wine lists to match.Calling the shots
Its émigrés helped to shape the global film industry and now the country itself is becoming a cinema and TV production hub. So how is Hungary earning its starring role as the Hollywood of Europe?Open book
The Finnish capital’s new public library was the result of an anonymous open competition. As other cities look for a less ‘starchitect’ future, it shows what can be achieved with a little democracy.Back to the future
Our modern cities have ever-evolving needs. But sometimes putting a new spin on an old idea might just fit the bill, whether the aim is to tackle climate change or simply entertain.Different class
Recognising the impact that a school’s design can have on a child’s education, Swiss architects are leading the field in creating more accommodating institutions. We visit three that make the grade.Talking threads
It’s an industry where there’s always plenty to talk about. We brought together a fashion designer, a PR guru and a menswear buyer to discuss what direction it’s going in – and the challenges it faces.Taking stock
E-commerce has had a transformative effect on city centres but now the booming demand for warehouses to speed-up last-mile deliveries is set to bring another round of dramatic change to our urban landscape.We’re sold
With the right ingredients, physical shops can not only survive but thrive in today’s climate. The retailers on these pages show what you can do with a little imagination, an eye for quality and a genuine desire to look after your customers.C’est chic
Overlooked for decades as French diners sought ever more outlandish haute cuisine, ‘bouillons’ are enjoying a revival. So what is so special about these bustling restaurants that serve simple homely food? We pull up a chair and take a bite.From the ground up
Irish TV chef and food writer Darina Allen has trained generations of chefs at her Ballymaloe cookery school but fears a loss of skills in the kitchen. She talks public health, the perils of oat milk and the agrarian revolution.Critical mass
Restaurant openings can buoy neighbourhoods and help set a city’s culinary agenda. As such we asked a few of our favourite food writers for the inside scoop on some of the launches to look out for in the year ahead.Best of both worlds
The Halekulani hotel is a dream destination for its Japanese guests, with just one drawback: it’s in Honolulu. So the owners decided to reproduce its many charms in a paradisal landscape closer to home.Self awareness
As affluent modern travellers seek a boost for brain and body, hotels are now mindful of the wellness boom’s potential. We find out how Asaya at Rosewood Hong Kong accommodates this feel-good factor.
Expo
Small packages
Looking to escape the metropolis to downsize? Our global network of correspondents have come up with a definitive list of the world’s best small cities, which provide the right balance between opportunities for rich cultural experiences on your doorstep and that all-important space to breathe.Let’s make it a good one
A new year is the time for bringing out your best stationery and writing a list. Ours is a rundown of things that are set to make life better in the coming year, whether it’s a clever new business or a cultural opening, a flicker of improvement in a beleaguered metropolis or a city hall doing great things with public transport. We’ve also added some suggestions, from how to sleep well to how to improve on a gin and tonic. Here’s to a hopeful 2020.
Shoot
Other
