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Lydia Street

Deconstruction+Move
Reconstruction
Recent Progress

.

The photos below chronicle the building's condition when we found it in 2000, its preparation for the move, and the foundation work. They are arranged in reverse chronological order (please click on a thumbnail to view an enlargement). After over two years of negotiations we were finally able to secure the lot in East Austin in January of 2003. Brown and Sons house movers expertly relocated the depot in April. But first the roof, which was too high to move, was removed. We then scheduled a nighttime move, which involved the temporary removal of three traffic lights in Austin as well as propping up numerous utility and telecom cables along the route.

Given the lot's natural slope and in anticipation of the future basement, part of the site was excavated. Once on site, the building was positioned and foundation piers built up to it. But in excavating the piers, we unexpectedly hit a natural spring in part of the basement. The solution was to use steel beams and larger footings in the dry areas to span over the spring, which also gained us more usable space in the basement.The entire building rests on concrete piers and footings, although over the basement we substituted steel beams for the original 6x8 timbers in order to increase our spans. The salvaged timbers were reused later in the project as the center post of the spiral staircase, and to support the mezzanine library.

For the most recent reconstruction images, go here. Older reconstruction photos are here.

Move + Foundation

Deconstruction

Synopsis

Location
Austin, Texas
Size
Approximately 2,000 square feet conditioned space
Completion
Early 2004

©2002-8 François Lévy. Legal statement. Hosted by Maiatech.

Lydia Street
Deconstruction+Move	Reconstruction	Recent Progress
	.
The photos below chronicle the building's condition when we found it in 2000, its preparation for the move, and the foundation work. They are arranged in reverse chronological order (please click on a thumbnail to view an enlargement). After over two years of negotiations we were finally able to secure the lot in East Austin in January of 2003. Brown and Sons house movers expertly relocated the depot in April. But first the roof, which was too high to move, was removed. We then scheduled a nighttime move, which involved the temporary removal of three traffic lights in Austin as well as propping up numerous utility and telecom cables along the route. Given the lot's natural slope and in anticipation of the future basement, part of the site was excavated. Once on site, the building was positioned and foundation piers built up to it. But in excavating the piers, we unexpectedly hit a natural spring in part of the basement. The solution was to use steel beams and larger footings in the dry areas to span over the spring, which also gained us more usable space in the basement.The entire building rests on concrete piers and footings, although over the basement we substituted steel beams for the original 6x8 timbers in order to increase our spans. The salvaged timbers were reused later in the project as the center post of the spiral staircase, and to support the mezzanine library. For the most recent reconstruction images, go here. Older reconstruction photos are here.
Move + Foundation


		Deconstruction


		Synopsis Location Austin, Texas Size Approximately 2,000 square feet conditioned space Completion Early 2004