How Gilda Bojardi Helped Define Milan Design Week and Foster International Collaboration
Gilda Bojardi has steered *Interni* magazine as editor since 1994, shaping Italy’s design narrative. She invented the term “Fuorisalone,” turning Salone del Mobile into a city‑wide festival and publishing its guide since 1990. This year’s *Materiae* showcase features collaborations with Audi, Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG, Snøhetta and Michele de Lucchi. In 2007 Milan awarded her the Ambrogino d’Oro for her lasting contributions to design culture.
Mark Carney’s First Fireside Chat Showed Strength in the Face of Weakness
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered an unannounced “fireside chat” in which he revived the concept of “forward guidance,” a communication tool he pioneered during the 2008 financial crisis. The ten‑minute address was timed ahead of two pivotal events: a global...
Muzeu Braga, Portugal’s Newest Art Museum Bridging Art and Critical Thought
Portuguese construction group DST’s CEO José Teixeira has opened Muzeu, a contemporary art museum in Braga’s historic centre, repurposing a former courthouse with an industrial aesthetic. The museum showcases an inaugural exhibition that blends international icons such as Alex Katz...
Geopolitics Might’ve Lost Its Shock Value but the Delphi Economic Forum Is a Good Omen for Diplomacy
The 11th Delphi Economic Forum in Greece gathered regional leaders—including Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Albania’s Edi Rama, Estonia’s Alar Karis, and Monaco’s Prince Albert II—under the theme “The Shock of the New.” The gathering underscored how geopolitical shocks have become routine...
Our May Issue Celebrates Exceptional Timepieces and the People Who Wear Them
Monocle’s May 2026 issue celebrates the art of timekeeping, pairing its annual Design Awards with stories about a delayed train to Churchill, Canada, and the revitalisation of Cairo’s historic neighbourhood. The issue features a deep dive into why professionals still...
Is the Reinvention of Downtown Cairo Egypt’s Most Controversial Comeback?
Downtown Cairo’s historic core is undergoing a high‑profile revival led by Al Ismaelia, a property fund that has bought and refurbished dozens of Belle Époque and Art Deco buildings since 2008. Legal reforms ending long‑standing rent‑control are opening the market...
The Monocle Design Awards 2026: The Most Beautiful Buildings and Architectural Design
The Monocle Design Awards 2026 spotlight a diverse slate of award‑winning buildings, from Lombard Odier’s lake‑front Swiss headquarters to Seattle’s waterfront park that replaced a crumbling viaduct. Winners demonstrate how architecture can reinforce brand values, address skills shortages, and revive urban...
Can Greenland’s New Airport Put It on the Map for the Right Reasons?
Greenland’s new Qaqortoq Airport opened this week, giving the 3,000‑resident southern town its first paved runway and a modern terminal modeled on the capital’s hub. The airport is the second of three new airfields slated for completion by 2025 and...
How African Art Is Taking over the Venice Biennale – and the World
The 61st Venice Biennale, opening May 9, will be curated posthumously by Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman ever appointed artistic director of the prestigious festival. Her curatorial team is preserving her vision as a significant proportion of the 111...
How a Journalistic Eye Can Elevate a Hotel: Adrian Zecha’s Approach to His New Resort Collaboration in Rural Japan
Adrian Zecha, the founder of Aman Resorts, approaches hotel development like a journalist, observing and amplifying the existing environment. His latest venture, Azuma Farm Koiwai, opens in rural Iwate, Japan, in partnership with Naru Developments and East Japan Railway Company....
A Canto-Pop Revival Is Putting Hong Kong’s Local Music Scene Back in Play
Hong Kong’s Canto‑pop scene is experiencing a renaissance, with more than 1,000 new tracks released in 2025 and large‑scale concerts contributing an estimated HK$2.2 billion (about $280 million) to the local economy. A new generation of artists, exemplified by Warner‑signed singer‑songwriter Kiri...
The Top-50 Things to See at Milan Design Week
Monocle’s guide lists 50 must‑see installations and showcases spread across Milan Design Week, from historic venues like the Baggio Military Hospital to contemporary showrooms such as Alessi’s Palazzo Stampa. The roster features luxury brands (Hermès, Louis Vuitton), tech‑focused concepts (Kohler’s...
‘The Perfect Kitchen Is Where There Is No Fear.’ Seven Global Chefs Share Their Tips for Running a Successful Restaurant
Recent revelations of abuse at Noma have intensified scrutiny of kitchen culture, prompting chefs worldwide to champion humane workplaces. Leaders from Baroo, Attica, Masala y Maíz, Kenji López‑Alt, and Asma Khan detail concrete measures—fair wages, capped hours, profit‑sharing, open‑book finances,...
The Tote-Bag Economy Is Taking over Retail
The global tote‑bag market is booming, valued at $2.75 bn in 2025, and has become a status‑driven souvenir trend. Retailers in Paris and beyond are dedicating registers and signage solely to sell branded totes, often crowding out their primary merchandise. Shoppers...
On the Up: ITA Airways Joins the Star Alliance but Will Growth Dilute Its Italian Identity?
ITA Airways officially joined the Star Alliance at a gala in Rome, cementing its partnership with the Lufthansa Group, which owns a 41% stake. The carrier reported its first full‑year net profit in 2025, €209 million (about $228 million), and has relaunched...