Lifestyle briefs

Jun 30, 2011, 3:07 GMT

Helsinki deposes Munich as most liveable metropolis

London (dpa) - Helsinki has deposed Munich as the world's 'most liveable city,' pushing the southern German city into fourth place, according to Monocle magazine.

The London-based publication awarded Munich the top spot last year. But its latest edition for July/August ranked Zurich (2) and Copenhagen (3) above the Bavarian capital. Helsinki rose to the top from fifth position last year.

Monocle, founded in 2007, publishes its liveable cities rankings in the summer every year, rating the top 25 metropoles on the basis of a range of criteria.

This year the team, led by editor Tyler Brule, awarded bonus points for cities that did not shut down at 10 pm and that revealed an exceptional balance between traditional architecture and urban planning that is geared to the future.

'An unorthodox but well-deserving champion, the Finnish capital stands out for its fundamental courage to rethink its urban ambitions, and for possessing the talent, ideas and guts to pull it off,' the magazine said.

Another city that rose in the rankings was Berlin, moving up to the eighth spot from 11th last year. In compiling its Quality of Life Index, Monocle considers aspects like hours of sunlight, green spaces and the opportunities for relaxing outside in summer.

Writing in London's Financial Times, where Brule is a columnist, architectural expert Edwin Heathcote criticized how magazines like Monocle, Forbes and The Economist always seemed to choose smaller cities, like Vancouver, Vienna, Zurich, Geneva, Copenhagen or Munich for their top rankings.

'What, you might ask, no New York? No. London? No. LA or HK? ... None of the wealthiest, flashiest, fastest or most beautiful cities? Nope.'

Monocle List 2011: The 25 most liveable cities in the world with last year's position in brackets: 1 Helsinki (05), 2 Zurich (03), 3 Copenhagen (02), 4 Munich (01), 5 Melbourne (09), 6 Vienna (08), 7 Sydney (12), 8 Berlin (11), 9 Tokyo (04), 10 Madrid (10), 11 Stockholm (06), 12 Paris (07), 13 Auckland (20), 14 Barcelona (17), 15 Singapore (21), 16 Fukuoka (14), 17 Hong Kong (not ranked), 18 Portland (22), 19 Honolulu (11), 20 Vancouver (16), 21 Kyoto (23), 22 Hamburg (24), 23 Lisbon (25), 24 Montreal (19), 25 Seattle (not ranked).

Traditional Austrian dress in the cradle: lederhosen rompers

Vienna (dpa) - Even if the little one does not come into the world yodelling, he or she can at least look Austrian from the start. Tradition-conscious parents and devotees of Alpine fashion can now dress their newborns in lederhosen.

The Austrian fashion label Tu felix Austria has designed a romper with typical bib and braces, including embroidery and deer antlers. But in a deviation from tradition, the Alpine baby's suit is made not of leather, but of cotton. Information: http://www.tufelixaustria.at