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Every gardener has stood at the edge of their yard—hose in hand, coffee in the other—frowning at that one awkward, uninspiring corner. You know the spot. You’ve planted it, re-planted it, maybe even added a few impulse buys from the nursery last weekend. Yet something still feels off. Somehow, despite your efforts, that part of the garden ends up looking more like a messy patch of green than a thoughtfully designed space. The flowers come and go, but when the blooms fade, all you're left with is a blur of random leaves. This kind of garden frustration is incredibly common. Karen Chapman, a garden designer based in the lush Pacific Northwest, has seen it time and again. “People think they just need more plants,” she says. “But often what’s missing isn’t a plant—it’s a focal point.” Focal points give the eye something to land on. They're the anchors that hold a garden scene together. Without them, even the most beautiful plants can feel like background noise. Karen often encour...

 The moment Norwegian Aqua appeared on the horizon, her sleek silhouette cutting through the morning mist, there was an unmistakable sense of anticipation in the air. Lisbon’s shores, still recovering from the overnight storm that had battered the coastline with fierce winds and turbulent waves, seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. The port, closed just hours earlier, was now ready to welcome this dazzling new addition to Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet—a vessel that doesn’t just set sail but heralds the arrival of a new class in modern cruising. Norwegian Aqua is more than just a ship. She is the first vessel in the Prima Plus Class, an evolution of Norwegian’s already celebrated Prima Class. This new class is a bold statement, combining cutting-edge design with innovative technology and a futuristic yet elegant aesthetic that immediately signals a step beyond traditional luxury cruising. For seasoned travelers accustomed to the polished comfort of premium cruises, Aqua o...

 When it comes to planning a city break that marries culture, contemporary luxury, and a spark of creativity, London never disappoints. But to truly experience the city’s dynamic spirit, you need a base that reflects its vibrant energy and artistic pulse. Nestled between the buzzing neighborhoods of Shoreditch and the City lies Montcalm East, Autograph Collection — an architectural marvel that offers more than just a place to rest. It’s a creative sanctuary where design meets comfort, art meets hospitality, and every moment invites discovery. Montcalm East’s distinctive diamond shape immediately sets it apart in London’s skyline. This building is not just a hotel, but a statement piece, inspired by the op art of Bridget Riley, one of Tate Modern’s most celebrated luminaries. The hotel’s exterior and interior weave optical illusions and bold patterns, a playful nod to the vibrant creative energy that thrives all around it. Staying here is like living inside a work of art, where geo...

Architecture is more than the art of shaping space—it’s a mirror of the times we live in. In 2025, when we ask what it means to be an architect, the answer is far more complex than simply “someone who designs buildings.” Rapid technological advancement, shifting societal structures, and growing environmental pressures are reshaping the role of architecture in profound ways. Take the upcoming EDGE Architecture Festival in Budapest, for example. As Hungary’s first international architecture festival, initiated by the country’s leading architectural platform Építészfórum, it brings together global voices to reflect on where architecture is heading. But beyond the panels and keynotes, it’s the deeper questions raised by the festival that resonate most: What challenges are architects facing today? What defines the aesthetic of our time? And in a world of constant change, do we still need to build? Over the past few decades, the role of architects has quietly evolved. Once seen primarily a...

In the turbulence of mid-20th century Europe, modern architecture was never just about bricks and concrete. It was deeply intertwined with politics, culture, and technology. In her latest book, Reinventing Modern Architecture in Greece: From Sentimental Topography to Ekistics , Marianna Charitonidou embarks on a layered exploration of how Greece, a country balancing tradition and modernity, reshaped its architectural identity under the influence of postwar reconstruction. The book begins by unraveling the hidden influence of the Marshall Plan—not merely as an economic relief package, but as a tool of ideological reconstruction. One of the central figures here is Greek architect and urban planner Constantinos A. Doxiadis. His visionary concept of Ekistics , the science of human settlements, was born from this political and economic backdrop. Doxiadis approached architecture not just as spatial design but as a living social organism. In the fast-expanding Athens of the 1950s—caught bet...

 The mental health of university students is a topic that has sparked intense discussion worldwide, especially since the outbreak of COVID-19. Yet, recent research conducted at two of South Africa’s leading universities—Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town—presents a nuanced picture that challenges some common assumptions. The study reveals that, contrary to widespread fears, the pandemic did not cause a dramatic surge in serious mental health issues among students at these institutions. Instead, any increases in mental health challenges were largely evident even before COVID-19 took hold, painting a more complex story about the pressures faced by South African students in recent years. South African university students, much like their global peers, are navigating a labyrinth of stressors that extend beyond the pandemic. These students face ongoing economic hardships, social upheaval, and academic pressures that stretch well before the disruption caused by COVI...

  Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) near Cape Town stands as a powerful testament to Africa’s growing scientific prowess and its commitment not only to local health challenges but to global wellbeing. Professor Nico Gey van Pittius, vice dean of research and internationalisation at Stellenbosch’s faculty of medicine and health sciences, stresses that the BMRI reflects the continent’s readiness and capability to be a leader in biomedical research, contributing solutions that resonate far beyond Africa’s borders. The institute opened its doors to the public in April 2023, inviting hundreds of visitors to explore its cutting-edge laboratories and meet the scientists driving innovations across multiple disciplines. Inside, more than 500 researchers and students dedicate their efforts to fields such as bioinformatics, tuberculosis, neuroscience, and urology — all working with a sharp focus on diseases that disproportionately affect South Africa and the broa...