The Monocle Minute

London’s skyline is synonymous with iconic landmarks such as the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater and the London Eye. New York, meanwhile, has the Empire State and Chrysler Building, alongside a newer generation of even taller so-called “pencil” towers. Structures that reach towards the sky, as though in defiance of physics, are inspiring. But if architects don’t design with their surroundings and communities in mind, buildings can also be eyesores.

We need to strike a balance between the needs of the present and the needs of the future. Architects should strive to be as sustainable as possible and maximise the lifespan of tall buildings. With lateral thinking, developers and designers can create new towers that don’t simply demolish what was there before.

Many developers already recognise their wider societal responsibility and the need to offer something more than just an elegant architectural edifice. By integrating multiple uses into one building, it is possible to enhance the symbiosis between the development and the world around it.

So what of the future? In 50 years’ time, today’s buildings will still need to serve a purpose. We cannot possibly foresee all the potential uses and it would be uneconomical to plan for the future by over-designing. How to resolve these challenges, by building economically, aesthetically and with longevity in mind, is the hidden challenge behind any city’s evolving skyline. It’s an urgent conversation that all of us need to be having.

Chris Edgington is a building engineer at Arup. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.

The Olympic torch arrives in the port city of Marseille today after crossing the Mediterranean aboard the Belem, a three-masted sailing ship. Accompanied by more than 1,000 boats, it will dock on a pontoon designed to resemble an athletics track. This will mark the first stage of its three-month journey across the country towards the capital. The flame’s arrival will offer an early indication of what we can expect from Paris 2024.

“I only realised the power of the Olympic torch after designing it,” says Mathieu Lehanneur, who created this year’s version of the iconic object. “When I show it to athletes and non-athletes alike, you can see how deeply moving it is as a symbol. They ask whether they can touch it, as though it holds magical power.” The flame will travel 12,000km, passing through more than 400 towns. It’s an embodiment of the Games’ enormous soft-power potential.

In 1968 there were about 18,000 sento (bathhouses) in Japan. As of last year, that number had fallen to 1,755. But Yusuke Hiramatsu is proving that they can still play a vital role in modern Tokyo. The third-generation owner of Kosugi-yu in Koenji hosts regular events and skin-softening milk baths at his 91-year-old bathhouse. Committed to giving his fellow Tokyoites a respite from the bustle of the city, he recently opened a second outpost in Tokyu Plaza Harakado, a new development in Harajuku.

A bath costs only ¥520 (€3). Its design nods to crafts from different parts of the country, with tatami mats from Kumamoto and towels from Imabari. To keep numbers manageable, early-morning and evening slots prioritise local residents over tourists. The sento experience is about fostering a sense of community – something that big cities could always use more of.

How has a plank of wood with four wheels ollied, kick-flipped and carved itself a space in design history? The team considers the humble skateboard’s effect on the industry.