Compact Venice Timeless wonder on water Hedgerow Respektor The gloriously green veins of Great Britain Music for Robots Move your metal body ARTS, CULTURE AND OPINION Essays and reflections across culture, history, and the arts CINEMA ÄSTHETIK FILM AUDIO ODYSSEY MUSIC CULTURE DIGEST CULTURE ESSENTIAL READING BOOKS THRILLING CITIES TRAVEL ELEGANT MALE STYLE LATEST CULTURE Brutal Beauty Concrete is the most misunderstood of materials. Once the bedrock of imperial ambition, it has been scorned, venerated, revived, and ultimately sidelined in the name of sustainability. Yet its architectural legacy is undeniable—a material that shaped both the grandeur of Rome and the stark idealism of Modernism. CULTURE Weimar Germany The Weimar Republic, a fragile democracy that governed Germany from 1919 to 1933, occupies a paradoxical place in history. Few periods in modern history have so vividly reflected the heights of human creativity and the depths of human despair. A shattered beginning STYLE Perfume Nationalism Perfumes, much like literature, art, and gastronomy, encapsulate the essence of a nation. A mere whiff of a certain fragrance can transport you to a different country, evoking its landscapes, traditions, and cultural character. STYLE Time for a Cocktail For centuries, cocktails have been a key part of European social rituals. From the refreshing wake-up tang of a breakfast Buck’s Fizz, to the sophisticated sip of an evening martini, the right cocktail can set the mood for any time of the day. MUSIC Music for Robots In the 1960s, the space age spurred technological advancements that reshaped pop music. Musicians, inspired by the space race and science fiction explored futuristic themes where man and machine converged. BOOKS Dinner with Jünger Ernst Jünger was a prominent 20th-century German writer and philosopher celebrated for his contributions to literature and thought. CULTURE Fortified finesse Much like the discerning palate that savours the intensity of an espresso over a pint of watery Americano coffee, appreciators of fortified wines understand the appeal of concentrated flavours. STYLE The Perfect Hotel Guest Picture the scene: the gleaming surface of the check-in counter, the muffled conversations of fellow guests, and the watchful eyes of the hotel staff anticipating the arrival of their patrons. CULTURE Gesamkunstwerk! Gesamkunstwerk is a German term that translates to total work of art or complete artwork. Coined by the composer Richard Wagner in the 19th century, this concept refers to a work of art that synthesizes various artistic forms and media into a single unified piece.