BY ROGER VINCENT A rendering of One Beverly Hills, a nearly $5-billion complex under construction at Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards in Beverly Hills.(Foster + Partners and Kerry Hill Architects) Construction has begun on One Beverly Hills, a nearly $5-billion condominium and hotel complex that promises to transform the Beverly Hills skyline and be a commanding presence on its western edge. With tall greenery-laden towers standing over a sprawling garden, the complex set to open by early 2028 is expected to house some of the priciest condos and hotel suites in the country, as develo ..read more

From MI6 to the Vatican Secret Archives, these structures house sensitive materials and government secrets By Elizabeth Stamp Some of the world’s most important buildings have only been seen by a relatively small number of people. In other words, they are top secret buildings. Many of these locations house the headquarters of intelligence agencies, holding miles of classified documents and government secrets within their walls, or remain accessible only to scientists and researchers to protect the valuable contents. Agencies have taken drastically different approaches to the constric ..read more

By Michele Herrmann An aurora borealis, also known as Northern Lights, illuminates the night sky above the Yllas Fell in … [+]LEHTIKUVA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES 2024 is projected as an awesome year to witness the Northern Lights. In helping to spread the word about this news, Expedia has released both a survey and a guide on what travelers need to know and where to go to see this multi-colored light phenomenon. Unveiled in a media announcement, Expedia’s new survey cited that, in the year ahead, nearly half of Americans (42 percent) will make aura chasing a priority over other iconic bucket list e ..read more

These science-based strategies can turn your good intentions into enduring habits By Stacey Colino (George Wylesol for The Washington Post) Many people think that motivation is the key to changing habits — and that you either have it or you don’t. But motivation is not a psychological trait or personality characteristic. It’ssomething you can cultivate. “It’s about setting yourself up for success,” said behavioral scientist Katy Milkman, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where Y ..read more

By Spencer Whaley The Ascent will be something to sea this year. CELEBRITY CRUISES The forecast looks bright for luxury cruising as a new wave of ships prepares to take the seas in 2024. These new vessels accelerate the trend of next-level luxury liners with innovative design, higher staff-to-guest ratios and exceptionally curated itineraries covering dream destinations. Consider Forbes Travel Guide all aboard these eight new cruise ships. Celebrity Ascent Celebrity’s newest ship embarked on its seven-night maiden voyage to the Eastern Caribbean in December, so we’re includ ..read more

Find zen in these delicately arranged and beautifully manicured Japanese gardens all around Los Angeles Written by  Michael Juliano   Among L.A.’s many beautiful botanical gardens, none are quite as tranquil as Japanese gardens. Though they vary in size, most share a few common centerpieces: koi ponds, arched bridges and traditional teahouses. From a Little Tokyo rooftop to a Pasadena-area museum, these—among the best things to do in L.A.—are the most beautiful Japanese gardens in Los Angeles.   Photograph: Michael Juliano 1. Huntington Library, Ar ..read more

Huguette Caland was a libertine. Her art was about prolonging life’s pleasures. By Sebastian Smee (Stephanie Katsias, Museum of Modern Art) “I love every minute of my life,” said the artist who made this painting. “I squeeze it like an orange and eat the peel, because I don’t want to miss a thing.” Have you eaten orange peel lately? It’s oily and bitter. But if Huguette Caland knew some bitterness in her life, she also had a knack for prolonging life’s sweetness. Caland painted “Visages” in 1979. Ravishingly beautiful, it’s a square-shaped painting with 31-inch sides that was recently ac ..read more

By Hannah Baxter Books swirl along the walls on a Kartell bookshelf inside this artist’s colorful SoHo loft.Photo: Seth Caplan All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. As the irreverent filmmaker John Waters once said, “If you go home with somebody, and they don’t have books, don’t f*** ’em!” Dating preferences aside, the sentiment definitely rings true when it comes to 2024’s newest design buzzwords: bookshelf wealth. TikTok d ..read more

Did your city make the cut? By Amelia Mularz Each year U.S. News & World Report releases a list of the Best Places to Live in the US. These top-rated cities always include a few big players, like Boston and San Francisco, as well as some surprises, like Green Bay, Wisconsin, landing the #1 spot. To determine the best cities, U.S. News considers a multitude of factors, including quality of life, the local job market, value for your money, and the place’s desirability. And while we agree that all these factors are important in determining where to live i ..read more

By Guy Martin Doing That Big “LV” With His Hands, But In Reverse: Pharrell Williams walks the runway during the … [+] STEPHANE CARDINALE/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES Sporting one of Nigo’s “Human Made” T-shirts over a pair of elegantly flared, calf-roping jeans and a fine white custom-cut topper modeled on film hero Gene Autry’s classic 1930s Stetson, Pharrell Williams, the unassailable rock-master of fashion, dipped into his bottomless grab-bag of fun and put on a splashy, hilarious show for Louis Vuitton’s Fall/Winter 2024-5 menswear outing as the signature event during Paris Fashion Week. Now ro ..read more