The Zhangyuan (张园, lit. Zhang Garden) in Shanghai is a huge complex of shikumen (石库门) style architecture. Part of it, the Huayan Li (华严里) block of buildings, was moved in 2018 for preservation and underground construction work. In late May and early June, the block of shikumen buildings was moved back after 7 years.
For about 3 weeks, the building complex “walked” with a speed of 10 metres per day. The 4,000 square metre Huayan Li building, weighing 7,500 tons, was transported by 432 small robots positioned within 10 square metres of each other.
- #432个机器人搬运7500吨石库门建筑群 432 robots moved 7,500 Shikumen complex: 4.84 million views on Weibo, ranking number 32 on the Social list
Since 2018, Shanghai has not only been preserving Zhangyuan, including Huayan Li, but has also developed the underground space underneath the complex. This includes a new Metro interchange connecting three lines nearby (which was an out-of-station interchange before), and more than 300 parking spaces to support Zhangyuan’s transformation into a shopping complex and tourist destination. Not only is this a high-tech architectural feat, involving the relocation and return of the complex, but it is also a great example of a city preserving its historical buildings.