Great cities adapt and change like their residents. The process of finding a favourite has been a global undertaking that confirmed and renewed our love of exciting urban centres. The following make up Monocle’s top 25.
Our relationship with cities is symbiotic – and as we evolve, they do too. Today companies can take a proactive approach to their home towns and transform them into places to serve their communities, help the environment…
Billions of people live in cities but how many of us actually live in our city? Hugo Macdonald, author of the book How to Live in the City, takes us to New York, Tokyo and London with tips noting down how to thrive in these…
Cape Town's reign as World Design Capital for 2014 focuses on the problem-solving potential of design: an approach that’s more gritty than pretty. As South Africa celebrates 20 years of independence, Gillian Dobias explores…
Denser cities with ever-taller towers have made lift manufacturers’ businesses shoot up. But will pandemic woes and people fleeing to suburbs bring the trade to a juddering stop? No, say the key players, but do expect…
Tokyo performs a miracle every day.
The clean metropolis runs flawlessly in
the most organised manner possible,
defying all expectations of what it
feels like to live in and move around
a densely populated city.
Who’s up? Who’s down? Who’s in? Who’s out? Our 11th annual Quality of Life Survey identifies the cities with all the answers when it comes to liveability.
Japan’s mixed-generation living experiment finds success; Lucerne’s train station goes underground; a Tel Aviv-based start-up helps US city leaders hear what residents are saying.
Aarhus city hall was built as a statement of faith in the future during Denmark’s darkest days. Today its stunningly preserved design is still inspiring civic pride.
In 2000 Hector Mijangos founded a clothing range for DJs that led to his branded parties and then the foundation of Noiselab Records. Signing local and international bands, his label has changed Mexico’s music scene.
For our Quality-of-Life issue, Monocle has been busy researching the world’s top cities. And with a re-jig of the way each urban centre is assessed, this year’s top 25 promises some surprises.
The famed Mexican chef on her early culinary influences, rediscovering traditional Aztec ingredients and introducing seasonal produce and fresh seafood to Mexico City with her revolutionary restaurant Contramar.