New digital magazine discovers neighborhoods
The digital magazine Mirus introduces readers to lesser-known neighborhoods in well-known cities. It kicks off with Poble Nou in Barcelona. The first issue is 158 pages long—and can be viewed online for free.
Mirus means "amazing, striking, wonderful" in Latin.However, the name now also stands for exciting and exclusively produced stories about previously unknown neighborhoods in major international cities. Mirus is neither based on an app nor is it a blog. Mirus is an easily accessible online magazine for locally interested globalists.
In terms of content, Mirus focuses on little-noticed neighborhoods and districts of major cities.The first issue takes a close look at the Poble Nou neighborhood in Barcelona. At the turn of the century, Poble Nou was regarded as an industrial prodigy with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. At its peak, the district was home to up to 800 factories. However, the end of the industrial age led to a fundamental upheaval in Poble Nou.
Today, Poble Nou is probably the most interesting district in Barcelona - with great potential and a high density of innovative companies. And yet the district is hardly known. Tourists rarely stray here. This is precisely the concept behind Mirus, says Stefan Jermann, the founder of Mirus: "We are not interested in attractions, guides and sights in the conventional sense." Mirus is neither a travel magazine nor a trendsetter. Rather, it is intended to encourage people to go on a "micro" discovery tour themselves - to see places, corners and people with new eyes.
The protagonists of Mirus are the "local heroes": Nyamnyam - a couple who organize a kind of gourmet art performance in their apartment. Or Erika Lust, who specializes in erotic films for women and has enjoyed worldwide success with them. But also "La Escocesa", a former factory that now houses art studios for up-and-coming talents.
Mirus is produced in Zurich, but sees itself as an international and therefore English-language magazine that aims to appeal to "global nomads with a local attitude". Mirus is published four times a year. The next issues will be dedicated to unknown neighborhoods in Sarajevo, Lisbon and Rotterdam.
Photography: Stefan Jermann (Jermann.com). Art Direction, Concept & Design: Truce (Truce.ch).
