Urbanism
Public art can help us to fix our cities. Artist Olafur Eliasson can show us how
The artist behind some of the world’s most ambitious installations returns to the UK with his first permanent public sculptures. We ask about his belief in the power of art to shape communities.
Latest in Monocle Radio
Latest
A decade after designation, has Detroit’s Unesco status brought benefits or is it just branding?
This year, Detroit is celebrating its 10th year as a Unesco City of Design. Has the title truly transformed the former industrial metropolis, or is it only a glossy label covering deeper struggles?
Visionary ‘sponge city’ architect Kongjian Yu dies in Brazil plane crash
The pioneering architect’s death casts new light on his radical vision for greener, flood-resilient cities – ideas he shared with The Urbanist in a 2024 interview.
Opinion
The Marshall Islands could teach the world a lot with an amphibious parliament building
3 min read
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…
