I am racing to write this in the lunch break of Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference in Barcelona. And I’ll have you know that my commitment to never missing a deadline is keeping me away from some very nice chilled local wine and tasty croquettes – I am hoping some gently fried balls of delight will roll my way of their own volition. Well, you always have to live in hope. Or at least one of the little cheese platters that my colleagues have been unhelpfully rhapsodising about.

The conference is taking place in the Petit Palau at the Palau de la Música Catalana, one of the great examples of Catalan modernisme – the region’s take on art nouveau. The auditorium is embracing, cool (it’s still steamy summer here in the city) and I am sure that the space has already helped to make the day a joyful success. People have spoken onstage with passion about their various disciplines, encouraged delegates to look at their worlds anew and raised a few smiles too.

I am also struck by how many people just want to be part of a dignified conversation. Over the coming weeks and months, many of these interviews will be aired on Monocle Radio and will also play out across the pages of the magazine. But here are five takeaways.

1. 
There’s a generation of young architects who are determined to raise the bar by going back to their industry’s craft roots, insisting on processes that are gentle on the planet. Fergus Feilden of London-based practice Feilden Fowles explained that this means rejecting clients who lack ambition. They don’t want to be a mere service provider but rather a partner for change.

2. 
Diplomats can be eloquent, open and engaging while also holding onto their principles and having clear red lines. HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, minister of state at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held the room as she talked about the country’s formation in 1971, its belief in diversity and why it takes a stand against racism and hate speech. She had people queueing up to meet her as she came offstage.

3. 
Props are good. I got to interview the celebrated designer Keiji Takeuchi about his project and exhibition celebrating the humble walking stick. He brought five examples to the stage, including one with a woven basket wrapped around the cane by Hugo Passos. We had a lot of fun trying them out and, somehow, I agreed to kneel onstage and test one of Keiji’s designs that’s supposed to help elderly Japanese people get up from low-level seating. I placed an order.

4. 
The Barcelona-based graphic designer Jordi Labanda was a delight as he told the story of the city in 10 drawings. He added that Barcelona was like a lover and every now and then you had to have a word about what they were doing, where they were heading. But you always agreed in the end to keep sharing a bed.

5. 
I have also been reminded yet again of what a talented group of people I get to work with. 

Click here to explore the full collection of Andrew’s past columns.

If you couldn’t make it to Barcelona for our Quality of Life Conference, worry not. There’s plenty more Monocle events to smarten up your calendar. Next up is our Autumn Market in Zürich. It’s an opportunity to browse Monocle and Trunk’s offerings of seasonal style and regional craftsmanship at Dufourstrasse 90. Whether you’re already in town, hopping on the train or flying in, you might want to add some other stops to your itinerary. Here’s one from our Zürich City Guide.

Edition VFO, Gewerbeschule
One of the world’s leading advocates for printmaking and editioned artworks. Founded in 1948, Edition VFO is a gallery, publisher and arts institute housed in the Löwenbräukunst-Areal arts centre. Guests can view exclusive prints by up-and-coming artists as well as pieces by leading contemporary figures. Working to preserve old-school production methods while celebrating local and international artists, Edition VFO guarantees a unique and refreshing gallery experience.

There’s still enough heat left in Europe’s evenings to be enjoying dinners and drinks alfresco (writes Jack Simpson). However, the sun has fallen a little lower and by the time the second glass is poured you’d be forgiven for seeking another layer. Fortuitously, Copenhagen-based menswear label Another Aspect has you covered, literally.

The brand’s new Made in Scotland line features brushed-wool sweaters and long-sleeve polos made by expert knitters in the Scottish Borders. In navy, burnt brown and moss green, the palate will see you through the seasonal transition whether you’re at work, wandering the Highlands or perched outside your neighbourhood bar. 
anotheraspect.org

My family and I recently embarked on a typical day out (writes Charlotte McDonald-Gibson). To escape the crowds in Washington, we headed to the Maryland countryside to hike with the dog before sidling into a local vineyard. At a picnic table with views of rolling farmland, we sipped a floral viognier as the kids enjoyed lemonade and the puppy parked himself under a tree. It had taken us time to figure out a weekend alfresco drinking option that could be enjoyed by all members of the family, given that the US has a decidedly puritanical attitude to outdoor tipples. Booze is banned in Maryland’s state parks and many other public spaces, meaning no chilled bottles of rosé with a summer picnic.
 
Having come from Europe, this fun policing has been a shock. When living in Brussels, I recall a dance performance at a school playing field accompanied by a nice Belgian lager on tap. Many parents were happily imbibing. It was 09.00.

But here in the US, where outdoor drinking is often an exercise in subterfuge with furtive sips taken from a hidden Thermos, it seems that adults cannot be trusted. With many restaurants and bars now banning dogs – even at outdoor tables – rural breweries and vineyards are among the few destinations left where everyone feels welcome.

Now, The New York Times reports that dozens of breweries across the country are banning people under 16, fed up with unruly children running wild while their parents debate the merits of craft ales. This is a terrible idea – if the struggling US hospitality industry wants to ensure its future, it must make drinking and dining a pleasure for all, rather than making families feel like pariahs for chasing simple pleasures in the great outdoors.

The French word mobile can translate as “moving”, which helps to explain why, in 1931, Marcel Duchamp chose the moniker to describe fellow artist Alexander Calder’s colourful wire-hung shapes (writes Sophie Monaghan-Coombs). The introduction of kinetics into sculpture resulted in artworks that change with the wind or according to how they’re viewed. A new venue hosting many of those works is set to open in Calder’s hometown, Philadelphia, on 21 September. Rather than a museum, the institution is first and foremost “a place for a moment of introspection”, as Calder’s grandson Alexander SC Rower – president of the Calder Foundation and chair of the Calder Gardens Curatorial Committee – puts it.

The low-slung building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, displays the sculptures in different environments: some cavernous and light-filled, others dark and intimate. Outside, Dutch garden-design maestro Piet Oudolf’s selection of local flora will evolve with the seasons and over the years. “Being there is what’s important if you want to understand the work,” says Rower. “Physical proximity is key.” As the first purpose-built space for the artist’s oeuvre, Calder Gardens will provide an opportunity to wander among his outdoor sculptures, or “stabiles”. It’s a space to watch the shifting shadows cast by spinning mobiles – and be moved by them in person.

Still in search of more cultural happenings? Find sharp insights and fresh recommendations in our September issue, out now. Have a super Saturday.