By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. At the moment, our urban epicentres make up just over 3 percent of the world’s landmass but account for three-quarters of global pollution and 70 percent of energy consumption. As such, making cities more sustainable is a crucial part of our fight against the climate crisis; not only for the planet’s survival but also for global health and happiness
From Düsseldorf to Tokyo, the 15-year-old German Celine Dornick is dominating the global rapid surfing competition circuit, one city wave at a time
Day and night are temporal dimensions of unequal stature: Night still has a bit of an image problem. After all, nightlife, clubs, bars and parties are often associated with excess, or even violence and vandalism. Yet having a lively nightlife scene is a demonstrable enrichment for cities. An attractive night time economy, which includes theatres, concerts, culinary delights and much more, makes a city worth living in—and accordingly, attracts creatives and professionals.
As new forms of urban farming increase in volume and sophistication on rooftops, up walls, and in basements around the world, there’s one system that’s proving especially resilient—and yielding good-looking, great-tasting results along the way. Taking a democratic approach to the food supply chain, mushroom cultivators Smallhold are leveraging pioneering technology to put farming in the hands of anyone, everywhere—and shining new light on the mushroom kingdom’s many mysteries in the process.
The family business Sisters of Paradise is the brainchild of Ronja, Valentin and Prof. Stephan Gerhard, and together they invite guests to discover the world through their eyes. The extraordinary hotel concept is interwoven with a saga about two sisters who search for their brother all over the world and encounter the most hidden locations and secret attractions in the process. In real life, this fictional story intersects with the exclusive Sisters of Paradise hotels, all of them establishments that the founders themselves – and the mythical sisters in the saga – carefully scouted on their travels. It goes without saying that Ronja, Valentin and Stephan draw on their own family history! As children of a hotelier, Ronja and Valentin were born with a passion for travel, adding a family touch to the trio’s concept, along with the expertise of Prof. Stephan Gerhard. Anyone wanting to become part of this saga is enticed not only by the fantastic Sisters of Paradise apartments, but also by a series of recommendations for the selected locations around the world. This means that everyone can use the attractive tips from the multi-talented team to compile their very personal itinerary. Founder Ronja and her team give their guests access to exclusive experiences and highlights that you would never find in an airport tourist guide.
Food wastage is as much a part of our everyday lives as bread and butter – alarmingly so. Around a third of perfectly good food is regularly thrown away in Europe alone. The Too Good To Go app is designed to put an end to this by making it easy for suppliers and consumers to save food. COMPANION talks to Laure Berment, Germany’s Country Manager at Too Good To Go, about wonky pickles, women as managers and, of course, saving food.
Gül is a haven for families, as well as serving exquisite Turkish cuisine. Elif Oskan and her team take a lively and vivacious approach to running the restaurant in Zurich’s city centre, radiating as many sparks of joy as the restaurant’s Turkish oven spreads warmth.
Much of Pauline Beaudemont’s artistic practice takes place in her sleep. Situating herself within the discipline of post-surrealism, the French-born globetrotter channels the hidden truths of her subconscious through dream journals, experimental drawing techniques, and by giving herself the space to slow down, read, and connect ideas. These actions were next set to play out during a summer residency at the 25hours Hotel Langstrasse Zürich, which due to the pandemic has now been postponed indefinitely. Intrigued to hear what’s been keeping Beaudemont inspired, COMPANION gave the artist a call to chat about feminist superheroes, her current reading list, and the specific challenges the post-pandemic art world is likely to pose for women.
Why wait for the perfect travel conditions? 25hours Hotels partnered with Nordcraft and Si Puó Fare Bio to bring a taste of summer right to your own backyard with two COMPANION aperitivos.
