Residents passing through the Huangpu district of eastern Shanghai in October may have come across a rare sight. It is a “walking” building.
An 85-year-old elementary school has been completely lifted off the ground and relocated using a new technology called a ‘walking machine’.
In the city’s latest effort to preserve the historic building, engineers installed nearly 200 mobile pillars beneath the five-story building, said Lan Wuji, the project’s chief technology officer. increase.
The supports act like robot legs. They are divided into two groups of him, alternating up and down mimicking a human stride. Mounted sensors will help control how the building moves forward, he said. His company, his Shanghai Evolution Shift, developed a new technology in 2018.
“It’s like giving a building crutches so you can stand and then walk,” he said.
A time-lapse captured by the company shows the school struggling to take small steps.
According to a statement by the Huangpu District government, Lagena Primary School was built in 1935. Local Government Commission of the former French Concession in Shanghai. It has been moved to make room for a new commercial and office complex to be completed by 2023.
Workers first had to dig around the building to install 198 mobile supports in the space below the building, Lan explained. After the building’s pillars were cut off, the robot’s “legs” extended upwards, lifting the building and propelling it forward.
In 18 days, the building rotated 21 degrees and moved 62 meters (203 feet) to its new location. The move was to be completed by him on October 15th, with the old school building to become a center of heritage preservation and cultural education.
According to a government statement, the project marks the first time this “walking machine” method has been used to relocate a historic building in Shanghai.
decades of destruction
In recent decades, China’s rapid modernization has led to the demolition of many historic buildings in favor of gleaming skyscrapers and office buildings. However, there is growing concern about the architectural heritage lost as a result of demolition across the country.
Some cities have launched new conservation and conservation campaigns involving the use of advanced technology that allows old buildings to be relocated rather than demolished.
Official indifference to historic buildings The rule of Communist Party leader Mao Zedong.in the meantime The disastrous Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976 destroyed countless historic buildings and monuments as part of his war against the “Four Olds” (old customs, cultures, habits and ideas).
After Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, calls for architectural preservation revived, and the Chinese government granted protection status to many buildings before passing the Heritage Preservation Law in the 1980s. In the years that followed, the building, the neighborhood, and even the town as a whole were given state support to maintain their historic appearance.
Nevertheless, relentless urbanization continues to pose a significant threat to architectural heritage. Land sales are also an important source of income for local governments. That means buildings with build value are often sold to real estate developers where conservation is not a priority.
“Relocation is not the first option, but it is better than demolition,” said Mr. Lan, the project director of Shanghai Primary School. “I don’t want to touch any historical buildings.”
To relocate the monument, companies and developers will have to go through strict regulations, including government approval at various levels, he added.
However, relocating the building is a “viable option,” he said. “The central government is committed to the protection of historic buildings and we are pleased to see progress in recent years.”
Movement of monuments
Shanghai is arguably the most progressive city in China when it comes to heritage preservation. A large number of 1930s buildings in the famous Bund district and many 19th-century “Shikumen” (or “Shimen”) houses in the refurbished Xintiandi district breathe new life into old buildings It shows an example of how to do it. Redevelopment has taken place.
There are several ways to move buildings. For example, sliding down a set of rails or being pulled by a vehicle.
Aerial view of Shanghai Lagena Primary School building. credit: Shanghai evolution shift project
We also had to rotate the building so that it moved in a curve instead of just moving in a straight line. This was another challenge that required new methods.
“In my 23 years working in this field, I have never seen another company that can move structures around curves,” he added.
Experts and engineers gathered to discuss possibilities and test different technologies before deciding on a “walking machine,” Xinhua said.
Mr Lan told CNN he could not share the exact cost of the project, and relocation costs would vary on a case-by-case basis.
“Historical buildings must be preserved at all costs, so I can’t use them as a reference,” he said. “But it’s generally cheaper than tearing something down and rebuilding it in a new place.”
