‘Like a shimmering sea creature’: Britain’s first amphibious homes

A luxury floating house on the Thames that rises and falls with the water levels is just the start for the architectural duo set on addressing problem flooding

10 of the best adventure holidays in Europe

Walk, cycle, kayak or horse ride around some of the continent’s most stunning and remote corners

Makeup in middle age: is it time to bin your red lipstick?

My relationship with make-up has definitely changed since I turned 40 – but there’s no chance I’m giving up my lipstick

The best food they ate in 2015

Kebabs in Istanbul, sea urchins in County Cork, a sensational lobster pasta in London: top chefs and food writers share their favourite meals this year

Rowan Moore: the best architecture of 2015

From dumb towers to cool interventions, 2015 saw the gap widen between the big and brainless and the small and thoughtful

Observer critics’ reviews of the year in full