A collection of Domus guides to the cities

There are many ways to visit a city. There is the tourist who has to sweep all the museums in the city, spending most of his stay in their halls; there are those who go for shopping: fashion but not only, also modern antiques, vinyls or perhaps collectible books and prints. There are those who have the illusion of living the life of the place for a few days, living as a local; or those who go just to eat at a particular restaurant. Finally, there are those who show up totally unprepared, those who travel to travel, and return home with valuable discoveries or a little consoling “I guess I missed the best.” We at Domus have created concise itineraries of what we know best: the design of cities and their architecture. That can be private or public buildings, parks or squares, bridges and stations. And why not, museums, the architects’ masterpieces. Are not cities, after all, made up of just that at the heart of their identity?

In Abu Dhabi the history is recent and rapidly changing. Over the last fifty years the country has transformed from a pearl fishing village into a leading capital on the world geopolitical scene; from a Bedouin center into a melting pot in which flows of people from all over the world intertwine; from a provincial place buried in the desert (while Dubai was already becoming noticed) into an artistic-cultural stage of international appeal. Read more

It is said that to see China of the last millennia, one has to go to Xi’an, “the paradise of the West”, to see that of the last centuries, to Beijing, “the northern capital”, and to see that of the last decades, one has to go to Shanghai, the “pearl by the sea”. It’s no coincidence that the main monuments of Beijing date back to the last two ruling dynasties, the Ming and the Qing. In fact, Beijing is no exception to most of China’s historical sites, continuously reshaped in settlement forms, both in residential neighborhoods and imperial palaces. Read more

City of design, art, and entertainment: Toronto is the beating heart of Canadian dynamism. Here, history and innovation come face to face in a continuous dialogue and experimentation between history and contemporaneity. The city is thus a collection of architectural events: punctuating the plot of skyscrapers, low brutalist buildings invert the relationship between glass and concrete, bricks decorate the Art Nouveau facades, coloring even one of the “flatiron” buildings that dot North America red. Read more

Talking about Chicago, every architect immediately thinks of two things: the early skyscrapers of the famous Chicago School, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie houses. Thus, names such as Louis Sullivan and the Burnham brothers are evoked, or again Wright and the images of the Robie house, with its jutting roofs, massive volumes, and warm interiors. Read more

Venice developed under the influence of profound cultural contamination, reflecting in the development of a unique architectural language: in Venice, the Istrian stone foundations of the buildings rest on totally artificial soils made of wooden poles and mud, and all growth is meant to be vertical. But Venice is also a nostalgic city. Read more

Beyond Alvar Aalto’s icons, new design galleries and restaurants, cabins in the wild islands and the forest just a few minutes from the centre. The Finnish capital reveals its deeply ecological soul in 15 places. Read more

Contemporary Danish architecture is known for its focus on the human scale and its democratic approach. Copenaghen, in particular, serves as an ideal backdrop for showcasing innovative urban development that integrates environmental friendliness, sustainable solutions, and improved quality of life. The city offers tangible and contemporary examples that embody these principles. Read more

Bilbao is a beautiful city and a good place to live. fDi Intelligence, a magazine providing an authoritative voice on investment, is the latest to say so: among medium-sized cities – with a population between 200,000 and 500,000 – the Basque capital attracts talent and promotes business. Bilbao appeals because it was redesigned by architects, because it pursues sustainability, because it offers a higher quality of life than Madrid and Barcelona. Read more

As Europe’s westernmost capital, suspended between the continent and the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon offers a rich and varied architectural palimpsest, from the dense historical fabric to redevelopment projects and new international landmarks. The most characteristic postcard of the city is undoubtedly that of its many alleys crossed by the typical yellow streetcar, but we propose here – through some projects published on domusweb – an unconventional route of the Portuguese capital, starting from the western coast of the Tiago river, to the heart of the capital. Read more

According to the locals, London's skyline changes so quickly that, from decade to decade, is completely unrecognizable. In fact, walking around the city, it is impossible not to be struck by the succession of buildings rising skywards, façades being renewed and streets opening onto new squares. Through a number of articles published on domusweb, we have sketched out a route for an unconventional look at London which, winding its way through some of the most interesting architectural examples,  highlights its ever-changing face. Read more

Opening image: Picture of Abu Dhabi from Adobe Stock