One subway, and 600 tonnes moved
As part of the excavation work for the new subway in the Besso district at Lugano railway station, an unusual operation took place: the displacement of a historic building, weighing 600 tonnes, 25 metres wide, 10 metres long and 9 metres high. A spectacular event with rarity value.
A house shift is undoubtedly a rare and impressive event. This is what happened on 17 August last year at Lugano railway station. The actual shifting of the house, which used to house the post office and later the customs authorities, lasted from 8.30 am to 12.00 pm. The house, built at the beginning of the last century, has long been protected because of its architectural significance. Its location would have caused major problems, especially during the excavation work for the new subway, and therefore posed great challenges for all involved. It was decided to move it about 40 metres towards the north, and after about a year it was more or less moved to its original position.
The technology used to move a 600-tonne, 25-metre wide, 10-metre long and 9-metre high building cannot be used just like that. Months of preparations were necessary before the building could be moved. First, the building was completely hollowed out and a reinforcement made of wood and steel was built to prevent the outer walls from being damaged during the shift. Then, the ground was removed both around the building and inside it to expose the original foundation, which was completely milled away and gradually replaced with steel beams. At the same time, the advance tracks were prepared to the north of the building, on which the house was moved about 40 metres.
At the end of this year, as soon as the work on the subway is completed, the house will return to its original place, where it will stand on a fresh foundation for many years to come.