By Monocle
A briefing on global affairs, business, culture and design.
After the devastating port explosion of 4 August 2020, Beirut's creative community is battling to rebuild amid power-cuts and petrol shortages. A year on from the blast, Monocle joins its designers and architects on the streets of the city to see...
Nestled in the heart of the Aegean, the island of Ikaria used to be a secluded spot with a humble and unhurried way of life. Today, a third of the island's population lives to be more than 90 years old....
Monocle’s October issue has all the insights and inspiration you need to get going this autumn, from a sit-down with Estonia’s prime minister to a design special on rebuilding Beirut. Grab the issue now at [The Monocle Shop](https://monocle.com/shop/product/2032912/issue-147/).
Quality of life is a defining pillar of the V-Zug brand and an emphasis on sustainable living is fundamental to the Swiss company’s approach. We travel to Melbourne to visit Hip v. Hype, an innovative company specialising in eco-friendly homes....
The alchemy of creativity and technology is at the heart of V-Zug’s innovation. An integral part of their R&D is collaborations with top chefs from around the world. We travel to Hong Kong, Munich and Bern to witness the fine...
Swiss design is famous for precision engineering and high-quality materials. V-Zug’s design language is a reflection of this and is embraced by architects and designers around the world. We travel to Milan to talk to interior designer Elisa Ossino, who...
For more than 100 years, V-Zug has been developing and producing premium household appliances that balance efficiency with aesthetics. As the company launches its new Excellence and Supreme Lines, we visit their headquarters in Zug to discover the meaning of...
Launched in December 2020, [Konfekt](https://konfektmagazine.com/) is a smart, sumptuous magazine from the creators of Monocle. Edited between Zürich and London, this rich quarterly publication covers fashion, travel, drinking, dining, travel and design. We go behind the scenes to showcase the...
They might not fit the archetype of the high-end tailor but a new generation of smart young outfitters are now at the cutting edge of bespoke menswear. We get the measure of four such craftsmen in London, Berlin, Hong Kong...
A short drive from Tokyo, the storied town of Nikko has attracted locals as well as visitors for centuries. Located in the Nikko National Park, The Ritz-Carlton lets the craft and hospitality traditions of the region shine through. Asuka Washizu,...
Monocle’s September issue steps inside some of the world's biggest newsrooms, going behind the set with trusted anchors and hearing how agencies stay agile. Elsewhere there's Saab's latest fighter jet and the Hong Kong centre where shoppers can work up...
Nestled in the vibrant neighbourhood of Wan Chai, the St. Regis Hong Kong is attuned to the beat of this enthralling city. The drinks served at its revered bar reflect far-reaching inspiration. We join bar manager Mario la Pietra as...
From gallerists to artists, collectors to auctioneers, we check in with industry players to find why – digital innovations or not – seeing art in real life matters, how the past year has shaken up the market and what exhibitions...
This year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are unlike any that have come before. In the run up to the event, we met the designers, planners and people behind the scenes.
Monocle’s July/August issue marks the return of our annual Quality of Life special edition that is guaranteed to get you in the mood for the sunnier months. Review our index of the world’s 20 most liveable cities, our choices for...
Monocle launched its inaugural Design Awards in early 2021 to celebrate the world’s best and brightest talents in architecture, graphic design and industrial design. We invite you to meet a global cast of winners as we celebrate pioneering design projects...
Monocle’s June issue takes a whistle-stop tour through the world of transport. From the grand projects we’d like to see to a global rail revival, Monocle surveys the infrastructure, technology and savvy design keeping the world moving. We also touch...
Allow us to introduce you to our new publication, The Monocle Book of Homes. A guide to exceptional residences, the title is packed with beautiful photography, inspiring stories and few tips on making the most of your living space. So...
Your future starts today. That’s the optimistic message that runs throughout the latest issue of The Entrepreneurs. In it we survey the best places to do business in 2021, from the cities bouncing back from the pandemic to the coastal...
Despite the ubiquity of digital effects in cinema, Berlin’s Studio Babelsberg has preserved the craft of prop making. Its lifelike items continue to appear in some of the biggest movies today. We inspect the studio’s stunning hand-built sets and its...
Monocle’s May issue lifts the lid on our picks of the world’s best-designed buildings and products in our inaugural Design Awards. From big names such as David Chipperfield to small pleasures like electric switches, we celebrate the makers refining our...
We explore a New Zealand take on mid-century modern architecture that fused British brutalism with a Scandinavian aesthetic. The simple construction methods of the Christchurch School’s creative homes have endured changing tastes – and earthquakes too.
Monocle 24 is our round-the-clock global radio station, featuring live shows and podcasts covering news, foreign affairs, business, culture, design, urbanism, food and drink, print media and more. One of the things that’s driven its growth is our relationship with some...
All Monocle subscription options now include instant access to our Digital Editions so you can peruse our rich archive on the go. Plus, there are regularly updated features that you won’t find in print. Keen to know more? Press play...
As the business world prepares to get moving again, here are 10 things that you might have missed about Thailand during the past 12 months. From its sunny disposition to its trade and innovation, quality of life and sustainable development,...
Wondering how to direct your efforts? Monocle's April issue focuses on refreshing everything from your business to your wardrobe. We sit down with a bumper crop of interviewees, revisit Beirut to see how the city has rebuilt after the blast...
Allow us to introduce you to our new publication, The Monocle Book of Italy. Our latest title celebrates the much-loved Mediterranean nation through fantastic photography, witty illustrations and plenty of insightful writing. Join us for a colourful tour. Order your...
We visit two bold companies finding canny ways to pivot their product for changing audiences. Transhelvetica, a Swiss magazine, and Spiritland, a London-based hospitality and audio venture, are each shaping the media landscape for the better.
Technology is everywhere but that ubiquity can come at a cost to our health, wellbeing and the quality of our conversations. View our manifesto for a more dignified relationship with all things digital and learn to be a little kinder...
First-timers to Ginza will be struck by its impressive department stores and glossy luxury labels. But head to the back streets and this area offers a riveting mix of exceptional bars, galleries and small shops. This was where Tokyo’s westernisation...
With any luck you’ll spot a sumo wrestler out and about in Ryogoku, the riverside neighbourhood that is home to Kokugikan, Tokyo’s distinctive sumo stadium. Across the water is Kuramae, another old neighbourhood that has long been famous for its...
Monocle’s optimistic March issue challenges us to do it better, whether that be by growing your own forest or running a cleaner, leaner business. We visit the cities bringing the wilderness back to urban life and find out why you...
Harajuku is a neighbourhood of contrasts, home to the Meiji Shrine, which is surrounded by one of Tokyo’s largest green spaces, and a dense network of small streets packed with shops and cafés. Aoyama attracts a more grown-up crowd. Here,...
This historic corner of northeast Tokyo was once described as a place for “universities, bookshops and intellectuals”. Academic institutions are still there – along with the Holy Resurrection Cathedral – but Kanda is also home to electronics district Akihabara, a...
Yanaka moves at a different pace from much of Tokyo. As the city has changed around it, Yanaka has retained its old-fashioned atmosphere. Vacant wooden buildings have been brought back to life as new businesses such as cafés, noodle shops...
Nihonbashi has deep roots in finance. In the Edo period this was the commercial centre of the city, with bustling canals, streets and markets. Recently, the neighbourhood has been attracting attention once again as exciting new businesses set up shop....
Tokyo manages to avoid the chaos of other big cities. How? Rules and etiquette are important here – some old, some new. They are not always obvious, so let us show you how to fit in seamlessly and stay safe...
From chopstick wrangling to cash handling, you’d be wise to brush up on some of the key customs and good manners before travelling to Japan. And in today’s changing landscape there are some new rules to consider. Join us for...
Creative director Luca Ballarini starts every day at the Circolo Canottieri Caprera, an urban rowing club in Turin. It’s a daily discipline that offers a fresh perspective on the city – and on life.
Perched above the buzz of Beverly Hills sits Casa Perfect, a gallery of contemporary design set in a spectacular modernist home. Its founder David Alhadeff shows us the wealth of remarkable art and architecture that is to be found in...
The distinctive designs of House A Sauvage fuse elegant British tailoring with the laid-back lifestyle of Beverly Hills. We meet founder Adrien Sauvage who takes us on a tour around this dazzling city that fuels his imagination and allows him...
Monocle’s February issue encourages you to hit play on your ideas and ambitions for 2021. Whether you’re hoping to start a local newspaper (or a global one), revive your neighbourhood or set up a sauna in a tent, we have...
Norrbotten in Sweden is blessed with natural resources but more recently has been turning heads because of its growing roster of innovative start-ups. We bear witness to the region's effort to change heavy industries into clean businesses.
If you wish for a steady stride to navigate the challenges of the coming year, [the Bally curling boot](https://monocle.com/shop/product/1815274/curling-boot/) might help to get the message across. This heritage footwear design comes in an equally elegant box. Affirm your gratitude by...
If you’re looking to up your wrap game this year, we recommend furoshiki – a Japanese approach that’s stood the test of time for centuries. This cotton square is especially handy when wrapping soft or oddly shaped gifts. For an...
Christmas is best enjoyed through a child’s eyes, so remember to add a touch of cheer and enchantment among those practical gifts. This original Viennese snow globe, with Monocle’s mascot [Monochan](https://monocle.com/shop/product/1849807/original-viennese-monochan-small-snowglobe/) at its centre, will do the job nicely. Let...
No other country has refined the ritual of gift-giving as much as Japan. Get inspired with our nifty wrapping tricks to deliver [‘The Monocle Book of Japan’](https://monocle.com/shop/product/1684416/the-monocle-book-of-japan/) in style. This beautiful tome unpacks the nation in a multitude of ways:...
Our notebook collection produced in collaboration with German fine stationery purveyor [Leuchtturm1917](https://monocle.com/shop/stationery/) comes in a variety of sizes, colours and styles. Stop by Dufourstrasse 90, our Zürich headquarters, to adorn the pretty linen covers with gold embossing – a thoughtful...
Many of us are planning to stay closer to home this Christmas, so make sure your loved ones have plenty of reading material. A [Monocle magazine](https://monocle.com/shop/product/1849758/issue-139/) subscription and the inaugural issue of our stylish sister publication [‘Konfekt’](https://monocle.com/shop/product/1833475/konfekt/) will keep you...
Monocle 24 is our round-the-clock global radio station, featuring live news and shows covering foreign affairs, business, culture, design, urbanism, food and drink, print media and more. We also have a playlist to accompany you day and night. [Explore our...