Monocle’s editor in chief explains why we delve into questions about urban living that no one else seems to ask – and has some advice if your city didn’t make the cut.
Monocle’s Quality of Life Special is a highlight of the year for me and, I hope, for you. It’s an edition that throws open the windows to let in some summer sun, heads down to the sea to take stock of the year and leaves time to plot and plan for the months ahead. It’s also the issue that delivers our annual ranking of the best cities in the world to call home.
We launched this survey in 2007 because we didn’t believe that the existing research reflected the desires of the Monocle reader – yes, you. The statisticians working for other organisations were no doubt adept at assessing the state of the roads and the availability of private schools for expats’ children. But they were useless when it came to revealing whether a city was fun, made you feel at ease and delivered a high quality of life to all of its residents, not just those cloistered in one or two upscale neighbourhoods. Monocle readers – clever, engaged, passionate, entertaining to spend time with – deserved something better, something more dynamic.
This year we have focused on two elements as we continue to ensure that our ranking reflects both the needs of readers and the times that we live in. The first is joy – can you have a good night out in these cities? Are they places with cultural institutions and cared-for parks where people can come together and feel that they belong?
The second focus is ambition – are these cities that dream big? It’s easy for even great metropolises to lose momentum, to allow planning delays and financial constraints to halt their progress. If your city faces the challenges of delivering affordable housing, of tackling street crime, of delivering jobs, there is no time to waste.
I am aware that I might need to sport a bucket hat and dark glasses for the next few weeks because some of you will take umbrage at the exclusion of your own city or strongly disagree with where it ranks. Even members of our staff have occasionally been known to do battle for an outpost that they love – what about Mexico City, Chicago or Edinburgh?
So let’s get a few things clear about our intentions. This is not a ranking of gritty but sexy cities. And if your home town has a terribly high murder rate, then no – its cheap food scene will not be enough to win us over. We also want to be able to get around with ease so make sure that your city has good rail services and public transport, plus access to at least one great airport, before you get too riled. Besides, there’s always next year.
Beyond the survey, the notion of quality of life plays out across the coming pages in a lot of interesting ways. In Palma, we visit the new Terreno Barrio Hotel, where a team of creatives and an ambitious owner have conspired to make a property that rethinks the conventional tourism model to deliver a business that also takes care of locals. It’s a story that needs sharing. So too does our report on intergenerational living. How we make communities, diminish loneliness and rethink housing are all issues that every city needs to be contemplating – and fixing.
And on the joy front, read our exclusive report on the launch of Amble, a new vehicle that’s reimagining short-range mobility. Its “mini-mobility” play is super cute. Oh, and come to spend a day on the beach with us in our Ibizan Expo – from yoga sun salutations to sundowners, we have you covered.
As always, feel free to write to me at at@monocle.com. In the meantime, here’s to better cities, big ideas and downtime too.
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