Urbanism
Once the US’s kitschy capital in decline, Portland is bouncing back
After voting to professionalise the Oregon city’s government in 2022, Portlanders are reinvesting in the city with new shops, restaurants and cultural venues.
Latest in Monocle Radio
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A local’s guide to the best swimming spots in Vienna
It was only my second week in Vienna when a resident took me to swim in the Danube. It was an experience that moved me – quite literally. After relocating to the Austrian capital,…
The sounds of Tokyo have stories to tell – if you learn to listen
The Familymart jingle, train-station melodies and temple bells tell a story of Japan’s past and present.
From plot to plate: Berlin’s restaurants are relishing in ingredients from the city’s allotments
Berlin’s ‘brutal lokal’ movement promotes growing, raising and foraging food from the region. Now the city’s best restaurants are getting behind it too.
How Tokyo made it to the top of Monocle’s 2026 Quality of Life Survey
Our Tokyo bureau chief tells us about daily life in the calm, clean and ambitious Japanese capital.
Good cities point the wayfaring stranger in the right direction
Wayfinding is an art form and one too often neglected. There is a whole industry built around this craft that seeks to manoeuvre us around airports, hospitals and cities using signs, graphics and clever…
How to cool cities naturally, without resorting to air conditioning
Humanity has adapted to environmental challenges. But to mitigate the effects of a warming world, cities must look to the past to glimpse a better future.
Does Barcelona’s building bonanza bombard everyone’s wellbeing?
The clatter of cranes and major construction projects cuts through the atmosphere of Barcelona. But are we sacrificing today for a distant future?
Air-con has become the latest front in a culture war – but more hot air is the last thing our overheating cities need
Europe’s cities are woefully underprepared for rising temperatures. To stay competitive and comfortable in a changing world, they need to make bolder choices.
What makes Copenhagen a great city? Its ability to learn from its mistakes
The Danish capital is a regular frontrunner in Monocle’s Quality of Life surveys. But Copenhagen has also made its mistakes. Thankfully, the city continues to learn and grow.
Cities are like theatres, we the actors. What part do you want to play?
Ask not whether your favourite city placed in Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey, ask what you can do for your city (and friends).
