A great-aunt’s garden rocker was the spark for a bespoke business in tented and tasselled seats — they’re part modern craftsmanship, part Edwardian grandeur
The soft, fragrant herb favoured by Buckingham Palace offers a low maintenance, eco-friendly alternative to grass
South Africa’s second city is at a crossroads: those flocking to live there are powering the economy, but also driving up house prices and exacerbating a strained market and local infrastructure. For a city surrounded by ocean and mountains, the expansionist path forwards is a complex one
Cape Town sits between ocean and mountain, so its natural allure is assured — but can the city cope with its continued popularity? This city report kicks off this special issue, which also travels from sculptural rammed-earth homes in the desert to 18th-century mansions on the shores of Lake Como, from turquoise lagoons in Florida to swimming in the Seine . . .
The hotelier has won international acclaim with Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua, but her own 18th-century waterfront home has just as many stories to tell
The long dry spring has created a profusion of flowers, to the delight of most gardeners — but not those who are behind on their planting
Alfresco living rooms, kitchens and showers have become commonplace features. The bathroom is next in line
The English have long had a special relationship with mute swans. But when a magnificent male rears to his full 5ft height, stretches out his 7ft wingspan and hisses like a steam iron, what are the secrets of harmonious cohabitation?
Developers are increasingly looking to turn inland residential projects into waterside ones with artificial lagoons and lakes. What was once a trickle is now becoming a steady stream. But not everyone has the same approach
A growing number of landowners are the vanguard of an evolving conservationist role, tapping into funding streams to usher in a new era of improved water quality, flood management and more sustainable farming
On a historic Sussex estate, three women are creating a zero-waste wonderland where the beautiful gardens are good enough to eat
From a château on its own private island to a seaside thatched cottage with coastal hiking trails just metres away
Fight the pollution with these stylish buys
Ultra-cosy boutique retreats – from Hampshire to Belize
The designer’s first collection since leaving Berluti is an homage to his grandmother
In a village outside Accra, two women are fighting fashion’s waste crisis
Niche, nostalgic, neoclassical… the famous stoneware continues to fire the imagination
From a sustainable solar lamp to the ultimate glamping caravan
Some of the world’s most seemingly inhospitable landscapes are providing stylish sanctuary for a cohort of pioneering homeowners. Architectural innovation is keeping things cool . . .
What could be more arrogant than putting your bed in the middle of your living space?
Fashion brand Vince’s new Marylebone flagship is lending some West Coast warmth to the capital
Or the Spree? Or the Parramatta? Since the Paris Olympics, the movement to make city rivers swimmable has been making waves — but does the idea hold water?
A cluster of cylindrical outbuildings have become a striking home that blends sustainability with rural charm
Fifth-generation Judson Studios brings an artistic interplay of colour and light to homes and domes, museums and monasteries
In the age of laptop viewing, a TV refusenik held firm. But is there something to be said for the camaraderie of shared viewing?
This celebration of gardening in the UK is an entertaining but puzzlingly limited survey that omits more than it includes
Architecture is at a fertile inflection point. But while housebuilding goals, sustainability and retrofitting are dominating the agenda, why does accessibility too often remain an afterthought?
Japanese sculptor Kunimasa Aoki scoops the high-profile award with his stratified terracotta object, amid a mash-up of tradition and innovation
Statement key rings from the Louvre, candles that look good enough to eat, chic poop-bag pouches, and more
From tarmacked plot to lush green sanctuary, the somewhat secret OmVed Gardens is relaunching as the ‘UK’s first centre for food, ecology and creativity’. It’s both local community hub and agitator for global change
The spare, unadorned pieces made by the 18th-century religious sect inspire countless contemporary makers in every generation. A new exhibition explores what makes them so curiously influential
Come high summer, the capital’s residents head en masse for their second homes and holiday hotspots. Tracking their footsteps reveals an insider guide to French rural charm
At the foot of the Andes, the Unesco World Heritage site is becoming home to some of the world’s most adventurous skyscrapers — introducing a flashier, more exhibitionist style to the still subdued skyline
Homes with brightly painted facades are a tonic — and increasingly sought after
Trading a high-powered city career for a rural adventure of organic wine and cider making is a dream for many — for one couple, it has been bumpy but ‘exhilarating’
The director of award-winning architecture practice Konishi Gaffney shares his tips for adding a contemporary twist to traditional buildings
Celebrated for his surreal, sinuous furniture in wood and metal, the risk-taking designer is readying himself for a London solo show — prepping in his post-industrial renovation in Maastricht
