Works in Progress
@worksinprogress.bsky.social
Works in Progress is an online magazine about new & underrated ways to improve the world. worksinprogress.co
September 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
In Germany, the response to this problem was the Munich S-Bahn, which linked together 12 pre-existing suburban branch lines with a 4.3-kilometer-long tunnel. Using tunnels to link pre-existing lines in this manner is known as through running.
July 31, 2025 at 11:33 AM
In Germany, the response to this problem was the Munich S-Bahn, which linked together 12 pre-existing suburban branch lines with a 4.3-kilometer-long tunnel. Using tunnels to link pre-existing lines in this manner is known as through running.
The Orphan Drug Act was intended to fix this. First, it created regulatory fast tracks, including an accelerated approval pathway. Second, it sought to minimize low revenue potential by offering tax credits and a greater length of time for market exclusivity.
July 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The Orphan Drug Act was intended to fix this. First, it created regulatory fast tracks, including an accelerated approval pathway. Second, it sought to minimize low revenue potential by offering tax credits and a greater length of time for market exclusivity.
But even though it is no longer a superpower, the demographic decline didn’t hold back France’s economy. It is still a major economic power.
Demographic decline does not inevitably lead to the death of civilisation.
Demographic decline does not inevitably lead to the death of civilisation.
April 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
But even though it is no longer a superpower, the demographic decline didn’t hold back France’s economy. It is still a major economic power.
Demographic decline does not inevitably lead to the death of civilisation.
Demographic decline does not inevitably lead to the death of civilisation.
We know this from language used in wills: did testators refer to God and Paradise and ask for perpetual Masses? Or did they use secular language?
Ideas, not Napoleon, were what caused France to stop being a superpower.
Ideas, not Napoleon, were what caused France to stop being a superpower.
April 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
We know this from language used in wills: did testators refer to God and Paradise and ask for perpetual Masses? Or did they use secular language?
Ideas, not Napoleon, were what caused France to stop being a superpower.
Ideas, not Napoleon, were what caused France to stop being a superpower.
In England, fertility started declining in about 1850.
In France, the decline started in about 1750.
In France, the decline started in about 1750.
April 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
In England, fertility started declining in about 1850.
In France, the decline started in about 1750.
In France, the decline started in about 1750.
What happened? Birth rates declined.
Specifically, even though every European country’s birth rates went down in the nineteenth century, France’s started declining a century before anywhere else.
Specifically, even though every European country’s birth rates went down in the nineteenth century, France’s started declining a century before anywhere else.
April 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
What happened? Birth rates declined.
Specifically, even though every European country’s birth rates went down in the nineteenth century, France’s started declining a century before anywhere else.
Specifically, even though every European country’s birth rates went down in the nineteenth century, France’s started declining a century before anywhere else.
Fort Greene Five in Brooklyn, NYC are indistinguishable from their predecessors that rose more than a century ago.
We should not always mimic the past, but where context and will demand it, we can build as well as we once did, and in some respects, we can even build better.
We should not always mimic the past, but where context and will demand it, we can build as well as we once did, and in some respects, we can even build better.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Fort Greene Five in Brooklyn, NYC are indistinguishable from their predecessors that rose more than a century ago.
We should not always mimic the past, but where context and will demand it, we can build as well as we once did, and in some respects, we can even build better.
We should not always mimic the past, but where context and will demand it, we can build as well as we once did, and in some respects, we can even build better.
Second Home, Hollywood is a breath of fresh air amidst the highways and parking lots in Los Angeles.
The colorful pods that make up the office complex blur the line between indoor and outdoor, with 360 walls and garden workspaces to take full advantage of the California sun.
The colorful pods that make up the office complex blur the line between indoor and outdoor, with 360 walls and garden workspaces to take full advantage of the California sun.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Second Home, Hollywood is a breath of fresh air amidst the highways and parking lots in Los Angeles.
The colorful pods that make up the office complex blur the line between indoor and outdoor, with 360 walls and garden workspaces to take full advantage of the California sun.
The colorful pods that make up the office complex blur the line between indoor and outdoor, with 360 walls and garden workspaces to take full advantage of the California sun.
Weesperglide in Holland breaks the mold of suburban development with a bold use of natural materials. It’s familiar, but with a twist.
Designed for families and oriented around courtyards, it is much denser than American developments, but remains genial, attractive, and comfortable.
Designed for families and oriented around courtyards, it is much denser than American developments, but remains genial, attractive, and comfortable.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Weesperglide in Holland breaks the mold of suburban development with a bold use of natural materials. It’s familiar, but with a twist.
Designed for families and oriented around courtyards, it is much denser than American developments, but remains genial, attractive, and comfortable.
Designed for families and oriented around courtyards, it is much denser than American developments, but remains genial, attractive, and comfortable.
The level of detail and ambition of design in the Museum of Meenakari Heritage in Jaipur, India is all but non-existent in contemporary building practices.
The Jodhpur red sandstone is an exquisite building material honored perfectly by the latticework ornamentation.
The Jodhpur red sandstone is an exquisite building material honored perfectly by the latticework ornamentation.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The level of detail and ambition of design in the Museum of Meenakari Heritage in Jaipur, India is all but non-existent in contemporary building practices.
The Jodhpur red sandstone is an exquisite building material honored perfectly by the latticework ornamentation.
The Jodhpur red sandstone is an exquisite building material honored perfectly by the latticework ornamentation.
Terra cotta has been revived in wonderful ways in NYC in the last decade.
The ultimate example is The Fitzroy, a luxury condo building just off the High Line.
It shimmers in the daytime and broods enchantingly in jazz-age sophistication at night.
The ultimate example is The Fitzroy, a luxury condo building just off the High Line.
It shimmers in the daytime and broods enchantingly in jazz-age sophistication at night.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Terra cotta has been revived in wonderful ways in NYC in the last decade.
The ultimate example is The Fitzroy, a luxury condo building just off the High Line.
It shimmers in the daytime and broods enchantingly in jazz-age sophistication at night.
The ultimate example is The Fitzroy, a luxury condo building just off the High Line.
It shimmers in the daytime and broods enchantingly in jazz-age sophistication at night.
Located adjacent to a DC Metro stop, Chevy Chase Lake in Maryland is likely the finest collection of new mid-rise buildings in the country.
The fantastic transit-oriented-development is even more remarkable given it is in an affluent and historically anti-development suburb.
The fantastic transit-oriented-development is even more remarkable given it is in an affluent and historically anti-development suburb.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Located adjacent to a DC Metro stop, Chevy Chase Lake in Maryland is likely the finest collection of new mid-rise buildings in the country.
The fantastic transit-oriented-development is even more remarkable given it is in an affluent and historically anti-development suburb.
The fantastic transit-oriented-development is even more remarkable given it is in an affluent and historically anti-development suburb.
Yale also has been building beautiful residential colleges.
With rooms for 904 students and dining halls, lounges, study rooms, classrooms, and multi-purpose space, Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin Colleges are exceptional places at the confluence of ambition, prosperity, and skill.
With rooms for 904 students and dining halls, lounges, study rooms, classrooms, and multi-purpose space, Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin Colleges are exceptional places at the confluence of ambition, prosperity, and skill.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Yale also has been building beautiful residential colleges.
With rooms for 904 students and dining halls, lounges, study rooms, classrooms, and multi-purpose space, Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin Colleges are exceptional places at the confluence of ambition, prosperity, and skill.
With rooms for 904 students and dining halls, lounges, study rooms, classrooms, and multi-purpose space, Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin Colleges are exceptional places at the confluence of ambition, prosperity, and skill.
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee has transformed its campus over the last two decades from a nice-but-unremarkable place to one of the most attractive destinations for higher learning.
E. Bronson Ingram College continues this fine tradition.
E. Bronson Ingram College continues this fine tradition.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee has transformed its campus over the last two decades from a nice-but-unremarkable place to one of the most attractive destinations for higher learning.
E. Bronson Ingram College continues this fine tradition.
E. Bronson Ingram College continues this fine tradition.
Catfiddle Street in Charleston, South Carolina is rare as it wasn’t built all at once, but each new home rose organically alongside its neighbors over 20 years.
It’s a marvel of ‘inner-block urbanism’ where development happens within the block rather than on the streetfront.
It’s a marvel of ‘inner-block urbanism’ where development happens within the block rather than on the streetfront.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Catfiddle Street in Charleston, South Carolina is rare as it wasn’t built all at once, but each new home rose organically alongside its neighbors over 20 years.
It’s a marvel of ‘inner-block urbanism’ where development happens within the block rather than on the streetfront.
It’s a marvel of ‘inner-block urbanism’ where development happens within the block rather than on the streetfront.
A wonderful transformation of a dreary structure, Wellington House in Wimbledon, London is a delightful mixed-use office building.
The glazed ceramic tiles and sawtooth brickwork and the rounded windows that honor the corner make this building extraordinary.
The glazed ceramic tiles and sawtooth brickwork and the rounded windows that honor the corner make this building extraordinary.
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
A wonderful transformation of a dreary structure, Wellington House in Wimbledon, London is a delightful mixed-use office building.
The glazed ceramic tiles and sawtooth brickwork and the rounded windows that honor the corner make this building extraordinary.
The glazed ceramic tiles and sawtooth brickwork and the rounded windows that honor the corner make this building extraordinary.
There exists a popular sentiment that we can’t build as well as we used to and our best days are behind us. But when we choose to, we can still build beautiful and interesting developments.
Here’s a tour of 10 new projects that are creating a better built environment. 🧵
Here’s a tour of 10 new projects that are creating a better built environment. 🧵
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
There exists a popular sentiment that we can’t build as well as we used to and our best days are behind us. But when we choose to, we can still build beautiful and interesting developments.
Here’s a tour of 10 new projects that are creating a better built environment. 🧵
Here’s a tour of 10 new projects that are creating a better built environment. 🧵
Some find the high density of modern cruise ships unappealing. But even older people, often seen as the biggest skeptics of high density living, enjoy cruise ships’ walkable, high-density, and diverse environments.
January 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Some find the high density of modern cruise ships unappealing. But even older people, often seen as the biggest skeptics of high density living, enjoy cruise ships’ walkable, high-density, and diverse environments.
As well as the limits from ports and bridges, local destinations must be able (and willing) to cope with 1000s of tourists. In response to this demand, cruise companies are creating their own destinations. 10+ private islands and peninsulas are owned by cruise lines, like CocoCay.
January 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
As well as the limits from ports and bridges, local destinations must be able (and willing) to cope with 1000s of tourists. In response to this demand, cruise companies are creating their own destinations. 10+ private islands and peninsulas are owned by cruise lines, like CocoCay.
Destinations like Venice and Santorini have ports that are too shallow to handle the largest ships, while bridges like the Verrazano-Narrows outside NYC limit the height of cruise ships. With limited draughts and heights, the latest generation of megaships have expanded outwards.
January 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Destinations like Venice and Santorini have ports that are too shallow to handle the largest ships, while bridges like the Verrazano-Narrows outside NYC limit the height of cruise ships. With limited draughts and heights, the latest generation of megaships have expanded outwards.
Cruise ships could be even bigger and more numerous, but they are held back, not by the ships themselves, but the land-based infra they interact with like ports, bridges, and canals.
January 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Cruise ships could be even bigger and more numerous, but they are held back, not by the ships themselves, but the land-based infra they interact with like ports, bridges, and canals.
The biggest trump card for cruise ships to escape regulation is the flag of convenience. Each ship sails under a one nation’s flag, obliging it to the laws of that nation. Ships register in countries with favorable regs like the Bahamas to benefit from fewer taxes and labor laws.
January 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The biggest trump card for cruise ships to escape regulation is the flag of convenience. Each ship sails under a one nation’s flag, obliging it to the laws of that nation. Ships register in countries with favorable regs like the Bahamas to benefit from fewer taxes and labor laws.
Cruise fares have also fallen in real terms. In 1983 the cheapest cruise fare was $995 per person (about $3k today). An equivalent today was $600, five times cheaper in real terms. Plus cruises are getting better in terms of space per passenger and amenities.
January 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Cruise fares have also fallen in real terms. In 1983 the cheapest cruise fare was $995 per person (about $3k today). An equivalent today was $600, five times cheaper in real terms. Plus cruises are getting better in terms of space per passenger and amenities.
Unlike tramways, nuclear plants, or houses, cruise ships aren’t more expensive in real terms to manufacture than flag carriers of the past when measured per gross ton. It’s not tech difficulty or raw inputs that make infra expensive in Europe, but flawed rules & institutions.
January 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Unlike tramways, nuclear plants, or houses, cruise ships aren’t more expensive in real terms to manufacture than flag carriers of the past when measured per gross ton. It’s not tech difficulty or raw inputs that make infra expensive in Europe, but flawed rules & institutions.