Urbanism
Ten life lessons from finding the fun in fashion to footing a clean bill of health
Ah, Saturday morning. Looks like we made it – and in some style. As you read this, the 2026 edition of the Monocle Quality of Life Conference is in its final stages, wrapping up…
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What are you doing next weekend? There’s still time to hop on a plane and join us in Lisbon
The forecast says 29C and not a cloud in the sky. Neither perfect weather nor the promise of a glass of wine sat under the shade of a jacaranda should really determine whether you…
Much like Los Angeles’s airport train, California needs to get back on track
The Golden State’s once-firey glow has dimmed into a nostalgic flicker. Can California get its act together before the 2028 Summer Olympic Games?
Lisbon’s abandoned commercial spaces are offering creative solutions to the housing crisis
In a city centre that’s short on space, architect José Guimarães is betting that the answer isn’t to build more but to revamp what already exists.
Lisbon’s Beato and Marvila neighbourhoods are finding new life as cultural hubs
After decades of neglect, Beato and Marvila have been reimagined with galleries, cafés and arts complexes that have revived the city’s manufacturing heartland.
Laying the ground work: How a tiny group of artisans keeps Portugal’s stone pavements intact
Maintaining Portugal’s traditional stone pavements requires skill, patience and a deep appreciation for heritage. We meet one of the country’s few remaining ‘calçeteiros’ paving the way.
Munich’s Arabellahaus could become a model for saving Germany’s ageing housing blocks
When the owner of Munich’s Arabellahaus announced in 2018 that the building would have to come down, residents were furious. Completed in 1969, the enormous, skinny, rectangular structure long functioned as a miniature city,…
Tivoli Gardens debuts its new rollercoaster ride to Tokyo in the heart of Copenhagen
The historic Tivoli Gardens amusement park is bringing a slice of Japan to the Danish capital in the form of Hakari, an immersive area that includes Japanese-inspired design, food, art and rides.
Here’s how we compiled our 2026 Quality of Life Survey
Keen to know the questions that we ask Monocle correspondents and the data we used to compile this year’s results? Read on.
When it comes to quality of life, three Aussie cities are better than one
What we want out of a city changes as we age. Sydney, Melbourne and Perth show that quality of life means being in the right place at the right time.
What to expect at Monocle’s 2026 Quality of Life conference
For three days, Monocle comes to life as readers, speakers, and editors gather to exchange ideas and explore how we might live a little better.
