Let’s take this outside – Tyler Brûlé outlines what our cities need to do to thrive.

From traffic lights at shop entrances to ‘microforests’ bookending Brooklyn Bridge, this year’s design ideas are solving very particular problems. And how are retailers coping with the downturn? Whether it’s a visit from an official – and cuddly – mascot as a Japanese shop opens in Hong Kong or a quick phone call, it seems that the human touch is still crucial.

Douglas Cardinal’s architecture is informed by his upbringing in First Nations territory in southern Alberta. Now based in Canada’s capital, he finds solace navigating that city’s own bit of nature: the Ottawa River.

Our Beirut correspondent relives August’s fateful port blast and its harrowing aftermath – and hails the fellowship of the Lebanese.

Estonia’s defence minister on what he expects from the US, a Belgian-Dutch embassy design conference and China sells missile defence to Serbia.

Lybia's tourism minister, elections in the Northern Cyprus and Mumbai puts women on traffic lights.

Tel Aviv's deputy mayor on why cities should stand with protesters, a new Berlin-Vienna rail corridor and beautifully designed public toilets in Tokyo.

As the US gears up for another momentous election, could president number 46 soon be occupying the Oval Office? We asked 46 thinkers and opinion-makers how they would design a better America from the White House.

The future of retail has never seemed so uncertain – so who is staging a successful fightback and what have they learnt along the way?

Hot German grills, chilly Canadian icebreakers and joining forces in Japan.

Running a cinema is about much more than the silver screen. We meet the industry players who believe in the future of public screenings.

Gropius Bau was among the first major museums to reopen after pandemic-enforced closure. Director Stephanie Rosenthal reveals how she did it.

Growing up is, famously, hard to do, as our round-up of current and imminent cultural gems reminds us. From bedroom pop to Ugandan girlhood, the Sicilian coast and Japanese suburbs, teenage years and their legacy are to the fore. There’s also a thrilling sprinkling of spies, conspiracy and other contemporary obsessions to add spice to proceedings.

There’s nothing dry about desert architecture. At its best, it channels the spirit of its surroundings and takes inspiration from the light and the landscape. We hit the shimmering Arizona roads to take the temperature of a very particular built vernacular.

When we heard that the Swiss pharmaceuticals company Novartis was making plans to open its sparkling, prestige-architect-designed Basel campus to the public, we were keen to take a look.

We visit the furniture-making powerhouse in western Austria that is catching the eye of firms in search of superior craftsmanship.

It’s time for a reset. These products – whether boots, natty notebooks or button-downs – will help you tackle what’s left of 2020 with gusto.

The aspiring wine-makers of Portugal’s sunny Alentejo region have traditionally headed abroad to nurture their careers. But now they are returning and harvesting the fruits of their expertise.

Food finds from an architecturally inclined quesería in Madrid to a bolthole in Kyoto. Plus: two fail-safe recipes to whip up at home.

The famed Mexican chef on her early culinary influences, rediscovering traditional Aztec ingredients and introducing seasonal produce and fresh seafood to Mexico City with her revolutionary restaurant Contramar.

Craft and quality of the kind that only time can confer rule our round-up for the new season – a time to be expressive in the way you dress.

The season ahead calls for a certain sartorial sang-froid. This selection of pieces is set to lift your spirits as you stride forth.

‘The Monocle Book of Gentle Living’ is our just-published title to help you reconnect, make things happen and do something you care about. In the form of nudges (rather than shoves) we’re asking you to consider being a little kinder to yourself, others and the world around us. Here’s how to embark on a gentler, more leisurely life.

Whatever kind of abode you call your own, it should be a place you yearn to return to and where you sequester yourself when you need downtime. Our plan for creating a home mixes private spots with calm workspaces and soft light, preferably with some animal magic.

Are we losing touch with the most simple human pursuits that nurture mind and body? In an age when every new technological commodity seems to isolate and enrage, there are tangible ways of reconnecting both with other people and yourself. So consider setting aside a part of your day for the following activities, including a kip – you’ve earned it.

Having a library isn’t about hoarding stuffy, leather-bound books. It could just be a modest bedside pile. It’s more about keeping a paper trail of where you’ve been and what you were thinking, while saving room for surprising finds. Inspiration can come from anywhere.

Three writers hold forth on calming pleasures, from connecting with our roots through recipes to (gently) rethinking the city and reliving treasured trips.

What could be a gentler intervention than beautifying your balcony or cultivating something edible from scratch? Here are some well-made pieces of hardware to help you get your yard in order and transform those borders, baskets and bushes.

Swimming – wild, urban and otherwise – is the antidote we need to the overbearing demands of working and living, so whether you’re in the city or not, throw on some togs and take the plunge.

Italy may have been struggling in the spring but come August there was no stopping its citizens from shutting up shop and flocking to its sun-baked, salty edges. So what is it like, being on holiday, in Italy, with only Italians? Our senior correspondent finds out – that is, when he’s not busy bronzing and guzzling gin cocktails.

Industry leaders – from food to fashion and technology to shipbuilding – offer their perspectives on why, and how, Italy will bounce back.

In the wake of the pandemic, Italians are forging new paths in the reconstruction of their lives. We talk to three pioneers in the fields of food, economics and fashion.

What do Italians think makes their country special? We speak to nine prominent residents, from actors to art collectors, to find out what they love most about the Bel Paese – and its ability to bounce back.

In Veneto, despite economic uncertainty, traditions hold on and Italians stay sharp in style and business.

From visionary aerospace companies to powerful boat-makers, Italy is home to a far-reaching crop of mobility players. We meet the transport-industry movers that are pioneering smarter and greener ways of travelling and commuting.

When cosmetics-maker Davines relocated to the outskirts of Parma to focus on its values, it started a regional revolution in how businesses balance purpose and profit.

The supremacy of the Italian design sector lies in its craftsmanship, use of fine materials and stylistic ingenuity. But our look at recent developments shows that it’s also an industry that knows how to innovate and evolve to meet the needs of global customers in changing times.

A spate of growers, producers, chefs and farmers are reintroducing the country to forgotten ingredients and rediscovering age-old recipes that champion sustainability and a closer link with nature.

What’s the right recipe for luxury? To find the answer, we visit an historic hotel where familiarity meets grandeur.