Films — Affairs

For a small city, Zurich’s 50 museums, theatres and concert halls are a subtle hint that there’s more than beautiful architecture, clean living and stunning scenery in Monocle’s favourite city of 2012. A strict corporate culture with a village-style feel that means Zurich is a microcosm of a well-balanced city that larger neighbours could learn from.

Great cities adapt and change like their residents. The process of finding a favourite has been a global undertaking that confirmed and renewed our love of exciting urban centres. Here is our annual ranking of the best cities to make a base within – who’s up, who’s down and who’s new?

The West Bengali city is at a crossroads. On the one hand Kolkata wants to re-establish the look and feel of its Raj glory days. On the other, it wants to brand itself as a contemporary culture and business gate-way open to the east.

The West Bengali city is at a crossroads. On the one hand Kolkata wants to re-establish the look and feel of its Raj glory days. On the other, it wants to brand itself as a contemporary culture and business gate-way open to the east.

The new Sami parliament building in Finland is a proud symbol of how far the indigenous people of Europe's north have come over the past century, from being a culture struggling for survival to a thriving community.

The new Sami parliament building in Finland is a proud symbol of how far the indigenous people of Europe's north have come over the past century, from being a culture struggling for survival to a thriving community.

Five years ago Monocle hit the newsstands. Today it’s at the heart of a very modern media company – but also one with some old-school values. Here is a film that chronicles the first five years.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.