Place

Photo of a city street with a man in a hat in the foreground and another man walking among cars in the background.
DEPRESSION
1

Why life is faster but depression is lower in bigger cities

Large cities might seem detrimental to mental health but a comparison of depression rates suggests bigger is better

by Andrew Stier

Miniature painting of two men in traditional Persian attire, standing in a garden surrounded by trees with floral accents.
VIRTUES AND VICES

Persianate ‘adab’ involves far more than elegant manners

Across 13th- to 19th-century Persianate culture, ‘adab’ meant more than manners – it was proper social and aesthetic form

by Mana Kia

A night scene with a warmly lit cabin in the woods. An elderly person is inside, visible through large glass windows.
ARCHITECTURE

From modernist architect, to a life off-grid, a creative life well-lived

Directed by Ryan Malloy

Black and white photo of a man walking towards a lighthouse by the sea with his hands behind his back.
PLEASURES AND PASTIMES
16

How to wander

Whether in a city or the wilderness, near or far, there’s joy to be had in a journey where the destination doesn’t matter

by Jordan Fisher Smith

Photo of a quaint bookshop with a green facade and display window filled with books, a person entering via a side door.
PLACE

‘Place authenticity’ is an important, overlooked part of life

From indie bookshops to artisan cafes, spending time in unique, characterful places can enrich your own sense of self

by Ashley Krause

Photo of an ornate underground station with arched ceilings, mosaic details pedestrians and a yellow train on the platform.
ARCHITECTURE
3

How to appreciate buildings

It’s easy to become blasé about the built world. Tune in more deeply and architectural adventures await around each corner

by Colin Ellard

Photo of a woman using a phone by a sunny window with a city view. She is next to a suitcase and a red chair.
PLACE

The divided self: does where I live make me who I am?

At home in Delhi, I am a more social, interactive person. A quiet balcony in Frankfurt gave me space to be by myself

by Anandi Mishra

Photo of a wooden dresser with a round mirror books and notes. A tape measure and candle holder are on the dresser.
THE SELF

What my mother’s sticky notes show about the nature of the self

Dementia accelerates a process we all experience, as our memories become increasingly externalised into the world around us

by Crispin Sartwell

Photo of a park in autumn with large trees and children playing among fallen leaves wearing colourful clothes.
NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
4

Look past the woods – each tree is an individual to be cherished

Try to look past the woods and see the trees: there’s nothing as elemental as the human relationship with an individual tree

by Sarah Boon

Photo of a woodland scene with lush green trees and a field of blooming bluebells and white wildflowers.
NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Nature is good for you. That doesn’t mean we should prescribe it

It’s easy to believe in a general way in the positive effect of nature. But to actually feel it, put away the to-do list

by Jeremy Mynott

A seal sitting on green grass near the ocean with an upside-down group of people and buildings in the background.
PLACE

Journey to the Bering Sea in search of a deep ‘not knowing’

Directed by Sky Hopinka

Impressionist painting of a green Japanese bridge over a pond with water lilies surrounded by lush greenery in a garden setting.
PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

Monet understood the elusive power of a place’s atmosphere

The gist of a scene or place can subtly alter our very sense of being, an affecting quality captured by Monet’s paintings

by Pablo Fernandez Velasco

Black-and-white photo of a field of tall grasses or barley with a sunrise or sunset in the background and hills in the distance.
FOOD AND DRINK

A dance of light and pasta-making in Tuscany forms a sensuous feast

Directed by Josh Gibson

Elderly man in a weathered hat and coat, with a grey beard, lighting a cigarette, set against a blurred outdoor background.
EMOTIONS
2

Scenes unfold like Romantic paintings in a touching meditation on grief

Directed by Hayk Matevosyan

Photo of an open wooden box with various trinkets including stones, jewellery and shells on a rustic wooden surface.
PLACE
1

In hatboxes, pouches and bags lie the items that define us

Whether it be in a hatbox, wooden chest or leather bag, what makes some stuff personal, rather than just private property?

by Andreas Gehrlach

A Black woman balancing a basin on her head walking on a dirt road past a moving motorcycle and a blue building.
COMMUNITY

The steady drumbeat of life in the first free town in the Americas

Directed by Sebastián Pinzón Silva