Durchstich

Durchstich (German for “through-cut” or “breakthrough”) is a term used across several technical and planning disciplines to denote a passage, opening, or breach created by cutting through an obstacle, such as rock, a building block, or a defensive line. The exact sense depends on context.

In civil engineering and construction, a Durchstich refers to a through passage that connects two spaces or routes. Examples include a tunnel cut through a hillside to join two valleys, a gap carved in a city block to connect streets, or the creation of an opening in a retaining wall to form a new axis or pedestrian route.

In mining and tunneling, a Durchstich is the moment when two advancing excavations meet, or when a tunnel reaches an opposite tunnel or gallery. This breakthrough enables access, ventilation, drainage, or further extension of the tunnel network.

In urban planning and architectural history, Durchstich can describe the deliberate breaking of a building block to create a through passage or axial sightline, improving traffic circulation, daylight, or urban connectivity. Such interventions were common during modernization periods in European cities in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Historically, the term can also appear in military contexts to denote a breakthrough in fortified lines or defenses, though in common technical usage it more often refers to civil engineering and planning breakthroughs.