What Finland's president, Tarja Halonen, has in her motorcade, why Russia's building boom has hit the brakes, and how the Vatican is doing its bit in the fight against climate change.
Global leaders may be lacking in ambition but that hasn’t stopped us doing the heavy lifting for them. Monocle presents 10 grand projects that would make a big difference.
In Sweden’s far north a revolution is under way that could transform how Europe lights its cities and powers its industries. We take a trip to Norrbotten, where the future is looking green.
The Mojave desert receives more sunlight than anywhere else in the US, so plans for it to become a solar-power ‘Saudi Arabia’ seem spot on. But while many recession-hit locals are in full support, others are casting a…
While bankers on Wall Street continue to sweat and plan new career moves, their colleagues in Beirut are literally counting their good fortunes. Book publishers in London and armoured car manufacturers in Bogotá are also…
Missouri is revving up to be the first state in the US to roll out solar paving on a public road. The state’s Department of Transportation (DoT) has announced that a portion of the historic Route 66, which extends nearly…
Every year 40,000 people move to Germany’s capital, exacerbating Berlin’s already critical housing shortage. Cranes adorn the cityscape but construction can’t keep up with the demand. That’s why architects Andreas Rauch and…
Monocle's global bureaux keep their ears to the ground in a bevy of far-flung locales – and they're there to keep you abreast of the latest developments. This month: planes, panels and playgrounds.
One company’s trash is another’s profit. After revolutionising waste management in the UAE, Beeah has once again set the standard for sustainability with one of Zaha Hadid’s final builds – an undulating, solar-powered, AI…
The rebranding benefits of geographical name changes are weighed up in South Australia, plans to harvest storm water for consumption are questioned in the New South Wales city of Orange, and Tokelau announces plans to…
It builds one new coal power plant every week, and is the largest emitter of carbon emissions in the world. But as world leaders gather for Copenhagen’s climate change conference, China is also the nation that could save…
Some of Japan’s best assets are its architects and designers, and their know-how is ripe for exporting. A new exhibition in Tokyo showcases the best ideas for the house of the future.
As prices skyrocket and pipelines mysteriously explode, the folly of Europe’s over-dependence on fossil fuels, especially those imported from Russia, is being revealed and punished. With autumn turning to winter, Monocle…