Urbanism
How Montpellier’s mayor is leading Europe’s mobility transformation
Montpellier’s visionary leader is reshaping his city with bold mobility and pedestrianisation schemes. But do his ambitions extend beyond the city’s limits?
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Why Italy’s beaches became a battleground this summer
Italian beachgoers are experiencing spiralling fees and shrinking free sand. As debate rages, the question is whether the coastline is for the people – or for profit?
Get the word out: Barcelona is back. But where has it been?
How do you measure a city’s mood? Lately, in Barcelona – arguably one of Spain’s most emotional metropolises – there is much chatter about the city being “Back!” Bold pronouncements such as these prompt…
Throwing shade: The dark secret of cities that know how to stay cool
It’s Labor Day in the US and many are bidding so long to summer with a long weekend spent outside the city. Reflecting on the past few months, it occurred to me that the…
Welcome to Poveglia: Venice’s locals-only island
Some cities suffering the consequences of mass tourism have begun concealing and cordoning off small, tucked-away pockets for locals to enjoy without tourists. Amsterdam has its hidden swimming spots shared only via word-of-mouth, and…
Can Penn Station be beautiful again, without becoming a political battleground?
Some want to “Make America Beautiful Again” by restoring Penn Station’s original grandeur. Others see that as a political red flag. The fight over a train station reveals deeper divisions.
How Gabriel Chipperfield saved a London street
What began as a hotel redevelopment became a full-blown neighbourhood revival, reimaginging a Bayswater stretch with Spanish-style dining, a stylish florist and a liveable approach to the high street.
Join the Monocle team in Barcelona for new perspectives on building a better future
In less than four weeks’ time our Quality of Life Conference will be taking place in Barcelona. It will be the 10th edition of an event that, for me, is the highlight of the…
How informal “architectural bastards” could shape Thailand’s urban future
How can architecture better reflect a country’s real character? Thai designer Chatpong Chuenrudeemol shares how shanty towns, love motels and street carts reshaped his practice, and his vision for Southeast Asia.
Sadiq Khan supports “a better Heathrow, not a bigger one” as £21bn runway plans are submitted
London’s mayor remains opposed to the 100 per cent privately-funded plans for a £21bn runway at Heathrow, and previously detailed to Monocle the reasoning behind his reluctance.
How more cities can unlock the hidden potential of urban swimming – the joyful perk hiding in plain sight
Swimming, floating or simply messing about in open-air bodies of water is good for us. Cities can free their rivers, ponds and lakes to make it possible. Here’s how.
