Monocle

ISPO – Mountain Fit

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0100

As fashion brands plunder the world of sports for ideas MONOCLE's film crew headed to ISPO - the leading trade fair devoted to sports - to discover new ideas and hi-tech advancements.

Northern Exposure: Harbin

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

The Chinese city of Harbin is quickly establishing itself as a regional power, bringing in investment and cashing in on its food and fashion. Although it's still a long way off Shanghai, it's proving that it's far from grim up North. Liv Lewitshnik sent us this report.

Neighbourhood: Sheung Wan

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Sheung Wan is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Hong Kong, and with its old low-rise buildings and ancient printing presses it's a place where the past has largely survived.

Babers’ Tales

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

From a barber in Beirut’s scholarly district to a hairdresser in a Hong Kong alleyway, we get a hair cut in four cities.

Museums as Soft Power

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0100

How does culture sell a nation. Monocle and the V&A host a lively discussion on museums as soft-power ambassadors.

Christmas Gift Guide 2011

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0100

The countdown to Christmas has started and Monocle brings you a selection of presents to go under the tree this year.

All Nippon Airways 787

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0100

Monocle takes the 787 on a Japanese domestic flight to see just how much it lives up to the hype.

Travel top 50

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0100

Monocle's annual Travel Top 50 introduces you to the world's best hoteliers and leading airlines, airports, operators and chefs.

Soft Power Survey – Top 20 Countdown

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:30:00 +0100

Conceived of only 21 years ago, most nations want a “soft power” strategy – a way of winning the world over without resorting to military-industrial might. Here Monocle countdown the top 20 soft power nations, which have achieved their status through natural resources combined with creative, modern thinking.

Tokyo Designers Week

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:30:00 +0100

In the wake of a very difficult year for Japan, Monocle heads to Tokyo for its annual design week to see how the city and country is using craft heritage to attract new business.

London Galleries

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:00 +0100

From cutting edge upstarts to blue-chip stalwarts, London's art galleries are ever innovating with new spaces and new ideas. Monocle visits four that each in their own way show the art scene to be as bold as ever.

Neighbourhood: Karakoy

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:00 +0100

As Istanbul moves forward with aggressive plans for growth and renewal, Monocle meets the people of Karaköy to find out what kind of an impact development there might have.

The Monocle 24 Anthem

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0100

Monocle friends Kylie Minogue and Verbal teamed up for this exclusive music video to mark the launch of Monocle 24, live on air twenty-four hours a day from our studios in Midori House.

The Nordic Embassies

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0100

Monocle learns how careful thinking about architecture and design is helping the Nordic nations punch above their weight in Berlin.

Neighbourhood: La Candelaria

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 21 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0100

As part of a series on neighbourhoods in transition, Monocle visits Candelaria in Bogotá.

Korean Golf

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 21 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0100

With membership fees in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, golf is the ultimate statement of wealth in South Korea.

The Monocle Briefings - Dining Concepts

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0100

As more and more chefs blur the boundary between kitchen and table, we visit the entrepreneurs who are inventing new ways to heighten the restaurant experience.

Playtype

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:20:00 +0100

Typefaces are something of an obsession at Copenhagen design agency e-Types. Monocle heads to Vesterbro to see how they're faring.

Designing a Better Urban Future - New Delhi

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 24 Sep 2011 16:30:00 +0100

In the past 40 years, India's urban population has boomed by more than 350 per cent. Such rapid urban growth throws up huge challenges for planners and architects, but New Delhi is an example of a city taking control of its future development.

Power play

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 26 Sep 2011 16:20:00 +0100

As the auto industry faces significant technological and social change, Monocle reports from the Frankfurt motor show on the effect this is having on car design.

University of Gelato

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:20:00 +0100

For those looking for a career change Bologna's Gelato University offers a sweet alternative to further education.

Style Essentials - Top 25

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:20:00 +0100

Monocle's editors and contributors have travelled the world in search of inspiring retailers and craftsmen, new designers on the brink of breakthrough, top-notch technology and accessories, and that perfect pair of shoes.

Class acts - Colombia

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 14 Sep 2011 18:30:00 +0100

In the poor south-side of Bogotá, Colombia, things are changing for the better by way of both government-backed and community-driven education projects.

Kamal's Table - A Recipe for Lebanon

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:30:00 +0100

As chef, writer and food visionary Kamal Mouzawak prepares a feast for friends in his Batroun summerhouse, Monocle discovers the heart and soul in Lebanon's culinary traditions.

Designing a Better Urban Future - Hangzhou

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:30:00 +0100

Just under half of China's inhabitants are living in cities and the urban population is expected to multiply at an unprecedented rate. This film looks at the city of Hangzhou's regeneration project along the Grand Jing-Hang Canal to illustrate how quality of light can improve quality of life.

Best Urban Farm Projects

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:30:00 +0100

Monocle reports on four urban innovators who find creative ways to make local neighbourhoods bloom.

Designing a Better Urban Future - Copenhagen

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:30:00 +0100

Monocle talks to the city's architects and lighting experts about crafting communities and how intelligent lighting in public places can help pave the way for better cities and a healthier society.

Paleo

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:30:00 +0100

Rob Bound dons his wellies for a music festival of thoroughly Swiss fare.

Best Small-Scale Retail Ideas

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:30:00 +0100

A timeless idea with a unique twist can be all you need for a great business.

Good in a crisis – Athens

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 27 Jul 2011 14:30:00 +0100

Greece's finances are in a dire state. In Athens though, there's a group of people starting creative enterprises and cultural centres – even new hotels.

Best Grocery Stores

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100

A decent local deli can make a huge impact on your quality of life, and Monocle's favourite food markets do more than provide basic sustenance.

City Voices – Chicago

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Gabriel Leigh visits Chicago newspaperman Rick Kogan to hear his take on the state of journalism and quality of life in his city.

Best Cafes

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100

From breakfast at a food lover's market in Melbourne to a fresh brew in Miami's art district, Monocle films five independent coffee shops that each reflect the unique nature of their neighbourhoods.

Top 5 Loveable Cities

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Buenos Aires, Casablanca, Kagoshima, Rome and Seoul are never going to make the top 25 of our Liveable Cities index but despite their various impediments - from creaking services to epic traffic problems - they are all great in their own way.

Venice Biennale

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Culture editor Robert Bound reports from this year's Venice Biennale, pitching the cream of contemporary art against the most classical backdrop of them all.

Ebace

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100

The private flight market is still waiting for a real recovery but no one has given up yet. Monocle visits the annual private aviation exhibition EBACE.

Most liveable city: Helsinki

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Helsinki claims the number 1 spot in Monocle's 2011 Quality of Life survey for its fundamental courage to rethink its urban ambitions.

Jeff Koons

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Monocle visits Seoul's Shinsegae department store to talk with artist Jeff Koons about Sacred Heart, his newest addition to the shopping landmark's rooftop sculpture garden.

Ray Lahood

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 31 May 2011 09:00:00 +0100

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood tells Monocle why it's not too late to catch up with the world's most visionary players

Aircraft Interiors Expo

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Hamburg is a hub for aircraft interiors, making it a natural place to hold the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo. Gabriel Leigh finds out what's new inside airplanes.

Japan - building for the future

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Two months after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, the nation is beginning to pick up the pieces.

New York Auto Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Monocle looks at the role of the regional auto show in car manufacturer's global marketing mix.

The Italian Masters

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:00:00 +0100

This year's Salone del Mobile coincided with the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification. Though a time for celebration, Monocle asked key players what the future holds for Italy's industry.

Doha

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:00:00 +0100

From Egypt to Libya Al Jazeera's reporting has had a major influence on events on the ground. It has also helped to position Doha as one of the most important capitals in the Arab world.

Milan Furniture Fair 2011

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0100

This year the Salone del Mobile in Milan celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Baselworld Watch Fair 2011

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Taking place each spring, the BaselWorld trade fair continues to be the leading light in the global watch and jewellery industry.

Prix Pictet

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100

In the three years since its inception, the Prix Pictet has become the world's leading prize for photography in the field of sustainability.

Geneva Motor Show 2011

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100

A look at the highlights from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The Monocle Briefings - Part Six

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:00:00 +0100

A look at vinyl revival in Montreal, a new concept store in Beirut and a new way of selling tea in the UK.

The Monocle Briefings - Part Five

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:00:00 +0100

For this week's briefings, Monocle heads to Beirut and Berlin with a stop in Detroit.

Social marketing - Afghanistan

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle reports from Kabul on how social media is proving a lucrative market for daring media companies.

The Monocle Briefings - Part Four

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Monocle visits an art gallery in Sydney and a watchmaker in Zürich.

Korean Music Industry

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Monocle reports on how Korea's pop music industry is the country's most potent weapon in the global soft power stakes.

Trångsviken

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Monocle expolores how the Swedish town of Trångsviken is developing a reputation for breeding serial entrepreneurs.

The Monocle Briefings - Part Three

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Backstreet brewing in west London, Dutch glass design and an innovative plastic recycling project.

Vienna Apprenticeships

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Monocle surveys the relationship between apprenticeships and low unemployment rates in Vienna.

Sundance Film Festival

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Monocle attends the Sundance Film Festival to ask whether you still need a screening to break the box office.

Strelka Institute

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Rachel Morarjee reports on Moscow's newest institution devoted to architecture and urbanism.

The Monocle Briefings - Part Two

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Monocle visits a watchmaking school in Switzerland and a bespoke bicycle retailer in Melbourne.

Pitti Uomo

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle's Jonathan Openshaw travels to Florence to find out what fashion has in store for male consumers this autumn.

The Monocle Briefings - Part One

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0100

In our new series of global briefings Monocle reports on bespoke shoe making in London and visits Italy for a look at personalised yacht design.

Pro Montagna

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle reports from Vienna on the importance of cultivating a culture of craft.

Detroit Motor Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle reports from Detroit on why many were feeling upbeat about "Made in the USA" at this year's autoshow.

Beirut Reconstruction

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle explores how Beirut's redevelopment has become a threat to the city's historic streets and neighbourhoods.

Southern Sudan - Newborn nation

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:00:00 +0100

What will an independent South Sudan look like? Monocle travels to Juba to witness the birth of the world's newest state.

Sheffield Doc Fest

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 5 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0100

For five days a year much of the English-speaking documentary-making world focuses in on an old industrial town in northern England for the Sheffield Doc Fest, one of the major events on the film calendar.

Soft power - Santa

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A small Finnish city that sits on the Arctic Circle called Rovaniemi has claimed Santa as its own.

Art Basel Miami Beach

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Monocle's culture editor Robert Bound reports from Art Basel Miami on how the contemporary art market is changing.

Christmas Gift Guide 2010

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:00:00 +0100

Monocle's editors have scoured the globe for Christmas gifts to make your loved ones happy.

Kenzo Estate

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:00:00 +0100

The Kenzo Estate in Napa Valley, California, is owned by Kenzo Tsujimoto, founder of video games giant Capcom.

Travel Top 50 2010

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:00:00 +0100

From a clifftop crabshack in Portugal to the best coffee in Munich, this is our annual survey of the best brands, hotels and products in the world of travel.

Orgatec

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Ever sensitive to design in the workplace Monocle travelled to Köln for Orgatec, the biannual office furniture trade fair.

Arab Image Foundation

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:00:00 +0100

A valuable social history of the Arab world is being chronicled by the Beirut-based Arab Image Foundation.

Style directory - Shopkeepers

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Monocle travels to London, Madrid and New York to visit independent shopkeepers who are raising the bar in menswear retailing.

Made in Gotland

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:00:00 +0100

We head to Gotland, an island off the coast of Sweden, to meet its craftspeople.

Baku

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Baku's skyline is marking out the Azerbaijani capital as a city for the 21st century.

Expo: Washington DC

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Washington DC is an international talent magnet, pulling in people from around the world to advance agendas for their home territories.

Maison Rabih Kayrouz

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle visits Lebanese fashion designer Rabih Kayrouz at his atelier in Paris.

12th International Architecture Biennale - Part Two

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The second of Monocle's films from the 12th Architecture Biennale in Venice tackles the issue of urban development.

12th International Architecture Biennale - Part One

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:00:00 +0100

'People meet in architecture' is the theme of the 12th International Architecture Biennale in Venice.

Copenhagen Fashion Week

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle's fashion director Takeharu Sato visited Copenhagen Fashion Week to discover new brands, new products, and plenty of attractively attired locals.

Maputo

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Solid economic growth and foreign investment have transformed Mozambique's fortunes since the end of the civil war.

Blatt Chaya

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Lebanese retiree Edgar Chaya got into the tile-making trade by chance, after stumbling upon a suitcase belonging to a great uncle.

Prinzessinnengarten

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0100

We spend a day on the farm in deepest Berlin to find out how urban agriculture is taking root in the German capital.

Montreux Jazz Festival

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The Montreux Jazz festival is a celebration of music in beautiful mountain surroundings with eclectic acts, good food and an atmosphere more focused on bonhomie than going bananas.

Alexandria, Egypt

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Egypt, a country whose ancient history is a constant, unmissable presence, is well used to the idea that things aren't what they used to be.

Farnborough Air Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0100

It was good news in general for the airline industry as the 2010 Farnborough Air Show took place this week. Most major manufacturers, both commercial and military, were represented. Monocle travelled to Farnborough to take it all in.

Art International Radio

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Art International Radio is an internet radio station based in the Clocktower in lower Manhattan, run by Alanna Heiss, who's been at the forefront of contemporary art in New York City for decades.

James Corner - Reshaping cities

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0100

American cities don't fare well in our annual Quality of Life survey but things are beginning to change.

Master Planner - Jan Gehl

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Danish architect Jan Gehl is improving quality of life in cities across the globe, taking the focus away from the car and putting it back on people, with pedestrianised streets and improved cycling infrastructure.

Retail city: Paris

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:00:00 +0100

France remains a country where the small, local specialty shop is highly valued. Monocle visits eight of our favourite Paris shops to see what's on offer.

Most liveable city: Munich

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:00:00 +0100

As Munich jumps back up the scale to our No 1 spot, we look at what makes it Monocle's most liveable city.

The Impossible Project

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 29 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Four years ago Polaroid halted production at its factory in the Netherlands. The digital revolution was making its film obsolete - or so Polaroid believed. But Austrian entrepreneur Florian Kaps and Polaroid factory manager André Bosman thought otherwise.

Rapha Cycle Club

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The Rapha Cycle Club is a pop-up shop, café, gallery and meeting spot for road-racing enthusiasts in London.

Taipei Cycle Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 19 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

The Taipei International Cycle Show is one of the most important bicycle industry events in the world.

Winter Military World Games

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle visits the Winter Military World Games, where armed forces of the world promote peace through sport.

EBACE

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Private aviation has had a rough couple of years but now the business jet appears to be coming back into favour.

Brasilia

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Brazil is a nation on the up and on the diplomatic stage it is being listened to as never before.

Milan design galleries

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:00:00 +0100

During this year's Milan furniture fair, Monocle visited three of the city's most celebrated design galleries.

Milan Furniture Fair

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle took to Milan in force for the Salone del Mobile to pick through the stands, showrooms and satellite exhibitions and sum up what's going down in the design world.

Life in miniature

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:00:00 +0100

In studios around the world, they sit with scalpels, glue and balsa wood, creating everything from mini cities to pint-sized planes.

Geneva Motor Show 2010

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0100

At this year's Geneva Motor Show it was all about scaling down, and everyone from Chevrolet to Ferrari were going green.

Curacao

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0100

With the Netherlands Antilles about to disappear from the map, residents of Curacao are learning to assert their identity as both Venezuela and the US jostle for influence on the Dutch island outpost.

Retail Stars

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Monocle's retail and service survey chronicles companies and people who are setting benchmarks we should all take note of. Saul Taylor reports on three entrepreneurial ventures doing just that.

Vintage Danish Design

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Monocle goes to Copenhagen to see how classic Danish furniture continues to inspire a nation of designers.

Q&A: John Morford

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Designer John Morford has created some of the most iconic hotel interiors in Asia. Monocle editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé caught up with Morford in Hong Kong to talk about the design ingredients that go into a great hotel.

Walking the line

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

On our TV screens, conflict and bloodshed define Israel. But while these images are key to understanding the country, there are many other pictures we never see. In a personal essay, journalist Zed Nelson gives us his view of the nation.

Capsule hotel - 9 hours

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

The 9 Hours is the brand new capsule hotel unveiled in Dec 2009 by Tokyo-based Cubic Corp.

Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +0100

What makes a great hotel manager? Who is shaping the future of hospitality?

The Young Europeans

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +0100

As Kosovo prepares to celebrate the second anniversary of its declaration of independence, the small Balkan country is still fighting to win the world's attention.

Bicycle Design

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +0100

As the concept of urban mobility gains momentum, bike manufacturers are harnessing the world's best industrial designers to re-invent locomotion on two wheels.

Thandi Wine

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 8 Jan 2010 19:00:00 +0100

Based in South Africa, Thandi is the first black-owned-and-operated wine collective in the world and also the largest black-owned exporter. Kashfi Halford visits the vineyards in the Southern Cape to meet the people who have grown the brand.

Soap opera tourists

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A wave of Arab tourism is washing over Istanbul - and it's all because of racy Turkish soap operas.

The Monocle Winter Series - Edition 4 Preview

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +0100

In the New Year's Day edition of the Monocle Winter Series, Tyler Brûlé and the Monocle team welcome the European debut of Japanese pop sensation M-Flo. Watch the preview.

Design Miami

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0100

Celebrating its fifth year, a record-breaking 23,000 people visited Design Miami this year.

Q&A: Gildo Zegna

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0100

Editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé welcomes Gildo Zegna, CEO of supreme Italian menswear brand Ermenegildo Zegna, to the Monocle HQ in London to discuss the brand's centenary in 2010 and its longer-term future.

Christmas Gift Guide

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0100

In the final days leading up to Christmas we have compiled a last-minute gift list for those in search of inspiration.

Travel top 25

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0100

Monocle has travelled the globe for our annual travel survey and we reveal who we think are doing things right - from our favourite airline lounge to the best massage after a long-haul.

Cozy Town

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0100

There's nothing that irritates architects more than the word 'cosy'. We believe they should rethink their view.

The Monocle Winter Series

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +0100

The Monocle Winter Series launches on Friday Dec 11th 2009.

Urban Age Conference

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Istanbul, a thriving megacity at the crossroads between East and West, is at a critical moment in its long and rich history.

People in power

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0100

How do you run a village - or a nation? Do you need to be skilled at consensus politics - or a bit of tyrant?

Brasimba beer

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Lubumbashi, the capital of the Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is home to one of the country's largest breweries.

Melilla

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Melilla, in Morocco, is one of two Spanish colonies left on the African continent. The enclave is a lure for illegal immigrants who try to cross the border into Europe. Monocle's Saul Taylor heads to the border to take a look.

Galeria Leme

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0100

Five years ago, in a graffiti-painted corner of São Paulo inhabited by cross-dressers, Eduardo Leme opened an art gallery showing provocative, conceptual Brazilian art.

Prix Pictet

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0100

Monocle's culture editor Robert Bound reports on the world's premier award for achievement in environmental photography.

Genoa Boat Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Monocle's Ivan Carvalho visits this year's Genoa Boat Show to learn how makers of pleasure craft are making evasive manoeuvres by pitching pro-environment messages and updating cabin interiors with big names from the world of design.

Norton & Sons

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Step inside the Savile Row tailoring house that has modernised without losing a drop of its heritage. Norton and Sons young, new owner, Patrick Grant, personally picks his cloths from some of Britain's best mills.

Baselworld Watch Fair

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:00:00 +0100

With sales of timepieces falling by 20 per cent in the first few months of this year, watchmakers are remaining confident by looking to their archives. Monocle's Ivan Carvalho reports from Baselworld.

Geneva Motor Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Car sales around the world are in freefall but the global economy is not the only problem - too many vehicles are design disasters.

The School of Life

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Saul Taylor reports from the heart of Bloomsbury on the enterprise that gives new meaning to the phrase retail therapy.

Hotel Nimb

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Recently reopened in Copenhagen's Tivoli gardens, Nimb has provided the city with a badly needed asset - an outstanding hotel.

The Bookseller of Beirut

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100

As anywhere, Lebanon's independent bookstores have slowly been eaten up by big, bland chains. But Esquire, set in the once thriving district of Hamra, stands out as a slightly dusty, but proud, pillar of independence.

EBACE

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Smaller, faster, comfier and even cheaper - private aircraft of all shapes, sizes and price points were on offer at the EBACE aviation expo in Geneva. With sales on this side of the Atlantic still brisk, Monocle editor in chief Tyler Brûlé picks his best in show. There's more on the entire aviation sector in the Jun 2008 issue of the magazine.

Baselworld Watch Fair

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Baselworld, the biggest watch fair on earth, is where aficionados drool over exquisitely made tourbillons, escapements and overcoils, and where luxury watchmakers pick and choose the buyers they believe are worthy of their wares. Monocle visited the 91-year-old expo to see the latest horological must-haves.

Geneva Motor Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Green credentials and energy efficiency were the buzzwords at the glitzy annual Geneva Motor Show, now in its 78th year. But the real show-stopper was Nissan's latest project, its luxury sub-brand Infiniti, set to launch in Europe this year. Toyota's Lexus will be watching very closely as Nissan takes the wraps off its new FX, touted as a whole new type of car.

Cracking the market

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Al Rifai - the 'Rolls-Royce of nut companies' - is famous throughout the Middle East for its perfectly roasted pistachios and giant cashews. Now the Lebanese company has opened a Swedish HQ as it attempts to break into the European market with its premium products. Monocle travels to Helsingborg to see how heir apparent Moussa Al Rifai Jr is developing this iconic family business.

Q&A with Jürg Peritz

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:00:41 +0100

Swiss retailer Coop has opened a supermarket just outside Zürich for the discerning shopper. Not only is the company promoting provenance and sustainability with its products, but it is also building stores that raise the bar for green architecture. Monocle editor in chief Tyler Brûlé talks to Jürg Peritz, Coop's head of marketing and purchasing, about selling Swissness and why it's time to let in the daylight.

Eataly

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:00:00 +0100

"Buy, taste and learn about the best foods all under the same roof." That's the slogan of Oscar Farinetti's super-market Eataly, which opened earlier this year in Turin. Housed in a former vermouth factory, Eataly offers the finest artisanal produce from Italian suppliers, all selected with the assistance of Slow Food Italia and accompanied by lovingly compiled details of its provenance and production. You can even learn how to cook the dishes on offer in the numerous on-site cafés and bars. Monocle sent Ivan Carvalho to sample the fior di latte.

Frankfurt Motor Show

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:00:00 +0100

Frankfurt's biannual motor show is where the big guns roll out their great hopes for the future. While quality and newness are touchstones, global warming was the hot topic and "hybrid" the buzz word. Monocle's Robert Bound reports on the 62nd International Motor Show.

Brand Lexus: Turning up the J-factor

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:00:00 +0100

Rewind to 1980 and the idea of a Japanese luxury car brand would have been unthinkable. Today, Toyota's Lexus division has become a dominant force in the US luxury market and wants to do the same in Europe. Monocle's Editor in chief reckons they need to start exploiting their Japanese roots to make this happen.

Perfect High Street

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:00:00 +0100

Everyone loves an urban village but few cities know quite how to get the mix of retail, services and residents right. Monocle has taken inspiration from its favourite neighbourhoods to engineer the perfect precinct.

Q&A: Matteo di Montezemolo

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 15 May 2007 09:00:00 +0100

Poltrona Frau are one of Italy's most interesting groups, and certainly didn't disappoint at 2007's Salone del Mobile, with a massive stand and strong product range. Monocle editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé talks to CEO Matteo di Montezemolo about the importance of the Salone to the group, and their broader ambitions.

Constructing the future

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:00:00 +0100

The Gantenbein Winery, in Fläsch, Switzerland, has been the prototype for an entirely new approach to bricklaying: using modified industrial robots. Traditionally, the promise of industrial robots has been that they would replace the human workforce. But these projects, led by the Architecture and Digital Fabrication laboratory at ETH Zürich, demonstrate a different result: architects are free to create designs and patterns of a precision that simply could not be achieved by hand. Monocle spoke to Professors Fabio Gramazio and Matthias Kohler, who have been collaborating on the project with partners Keller AG and Bearth & Deplazes, about what it means for both building and buildings, and the industry's initial reaction to a prospective army of robot builders.

Q&A: Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO of Lego

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:00:00 +0100

Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen, Lego started life in the wooden toy business. Derived from the Danish words 'leg' (play) and 'godt' (well), the company's play-well concept has turned Lego into one of the most recognised premium toy brands in the world, and one of Denmark's most iconic companies. An assault from the electronic gaming industry and evaporating play time in Lego's key age groups means that both Lego and its competitors are having a tough time on shop shelves. Monocle editor in chief Tyler Brûlé talks to Lego CEO, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, at the company's innovation centre in Billund, Denmark.

Motoya Express

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

More and more Tokyo residents are switching from tea to coffee. And in some cases, it's thanks to Motoko Ito who runs a small fleet of yellow vans which sell lovingly brewed lattes at key points around the city.

Burundi

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0100

Bujumbura has got all the substance - and architecture - required to turn Burundi's backwater capital into an African success story.

The Lusophone Games

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 4 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0100

While the Jogos da Lusofonia may not have the same draw as the Commonwealth Games, the gathering of the old Portuguese empire showed that no matter how tenuous the links to Lisbon, there's plenty of strength in numbers.

Federal Foreign Office, Berlin

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 2 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0100

If you're Germany, you have no option but to assert yourself globally with a softly, softly approach.

Full speed ahead

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Until this year, the idea that Americans could enjoy European or Japanese-style train service was dismissed as a boutique cause of cosmopolitan columnists and futurist dreamers.

Q&A with Andrus Ansip

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:00:00 +0100

In his private offices in Stenbock House in Tallinn, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip talks to editor Andrew Tuck about having Russia as a neighbour, sending troops to Afghanistan and how to save the economy.

The Danish navy on the hunt

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Like latter-day Vikings, the Danish Navy tours the treacherous Gulf of Aden hunting for Somali pirates.

Stanley, Falkland Islands

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:00:00 +0100

For the first in a new series on outposts of opportunity, Monocle visits Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands.

International Defence Exhibition - IDEX 09

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Held every couple of years in Abu Dhabi, Idex is one of the world's largest defence, security and arms conventions.

Q&A with Anders Fogh Rasmussen

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Save the world is just one of the items on the to do list of Denmark's prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, this year. In a far-reaching interview he also talks about immigration, Afghanistan and what he thinks of Obama.

The Monocle Review 2nd Edition

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé presents the second edition of the Monocle Review.

Abuja

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Founded 32 years ago, Nigerian capital Abuja was a utopian dream.

Dream Team

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:00:00 +0100

As the US presidential elections draw closer, at Monocle we've been turning our attention to who we'd like to see in the Cabinet. From CEOs to hip hop moguls, we've found a team who could change America's image around the world.

Turkmenistan

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:00:00 +0100

When Turkmenistan's President Niyazov died in 2006, it was the end of an eccentric personality cult. His successor promised to open the state up but today the gas-rich nation is still an enigma.

Q&A with Lady Yvonne Cochrane

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Beirut's Christian quarter of Ashrafieh has weathered civil war, terrorist assassinations and the recent Hezbollah-Israeli conflict. But today the hill-top neighbourhood is once again under threat, this time from developers who are destroying the old palaces to build high-rises for the country's internationally mobile elite. As Lebanon faces yet another uncertain summer, Monocle editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé pays a visit to Lady Yvonne Cochrane, doyenne of the Christian East and owner of one of the most alluring palaces in the eastern Mediterranean, to talk urban planning, architecture and the future of her country.

Yubari: Ghost town

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:00:00 +0100

Featuring the haunting photographs of Shinichi Ito, our Asia bureau chief, Fiona Wilson, reports from Yubari, the Japanese coal city that lost 90 per cent of its residents after its mines closed and the city councillors went on a disastrous spending spree.

Zimbabwe: State of despair

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:00:41 +0100

Zimbabwe is a country on the brink of economic collapse. With inflation running out of control, the supply of food, fuel and electricity is dwindling. Posing as tourists, Monocle reports from a country where international journalists are banned.

Istanbul to Van

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:00:41 +0100

Every night the TransAsya Express departs from Istanbul heading for Tehran. It takes three days and two nights to reach its destination, time enough for you to leave the European lifestyle of western Turkey far behind. Saul Taylor took the train as far as Van in the Kurdish corner of the country. This is the story of Monocle's journey on the slow train east.

The Monocle Review

info@monocle.com (Monocle) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:00:00 +0100

Editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé presents the first edition of The Monocle Review. On this programme we highlight Narcotecture in Herat, a cosier version of Davos at Tällberg, a rock festival with a difference in Japan and a high-voltage tour of the Frankfurt Auto Show.