The small Venetian island of Murano has a grand glass-blowing reputation. In the glow of the furnaces, Monocle Films witnesses a new generation of designers at work.
The Ajeto glassmaking factory makes one-off pieces to commission for artists and designers. Glass master and owner Petr Novotný believes this is the way forward for the industry – not mass production.
A former waterside inn in a quiet fishing village north of Amsterdam is now a cosy hotel and restaurant where good food, nice design and big views all entice you to linger. Monocle takes a first look.
Adolf Loos was a key figure in architecture but his legacy has had to endure turbulent times in his Czech homeland. Now that restorations of his most dazzling interiors are underway, his designs are set to be revealed in…
As North Macedonia’s cultural scene awaits possible EU funding, the fate of its young creatives hangs in the balance – but that’s not stopping them raising the bar.
Making tortoiseshell glasses by hand is a rare and exacting skill. One of the last practitioners, Maison Bonnet, is making sure the art survives, thanks to its keen young apprentice.
The soaring glass-and-steel towers that dominate Hong Kong’s ultra-modern skyline spring up at high speed. Those rapid rates are thanks
to the use of traditional bamboo scaffolding that is light to transport and quick to…
Some of the most coveted items in the Monocle office this month are the Bruno Swiss-designed bike, the Murano glass Happy Pill vases and leather duffle bags by Beastin.
From roomy bags for all your essentials to creaseproof fabrics, the art of dressing for a life on the move is hard to master. Let us point you in the right direction.
The relationship between master and apprentice is based on trust and the belief of each in the talents of the other. Architectural model-maker Lee Howell is passing his expertise to Giles Harvey, in a craft that makes a…
Every year fans of modernism descend on Palm Springs for a celebration that treats designers and architects like movie stars. Cocktail in hand, we joined the throng and took in the lasting legacy of California’s mid-century…
In a discipline that has embraced the precision of digital, architectural practice McAlpine Tankersley stands out with its commitment to tradition and hand-drawn designs. Monocle meets a master and his apprentice to uncover…
Getting out among nature is good for our wellbeing – but where to find it in the city? We catch up with the green-fingered residents who, among the glass and the concrete, are tending to small patches of earth where they…
This month Monocle’s most desired products include a training kit to master wine aromas, an oversized skateboard made from a 19th-century library table and two must-have items for coffee addicts.