Buildings and structures cannot currently be moved in Windrose. If you want to reposition a station, wall, or decorative element, the only path is to demolish it and rebuild at the new location. Developers have acknowledged that direct relocation is a frequently requested feature, but as of version 0.10.0 it has not been added.
The good news is that demolition is non-destructive to your resources: every placed piece returns its full build cost when removed, so relocating a structure costs only your time and a little inventory space. This applies to everything from a single Workbench to a full set of Building Pieces such as walls, floors, and roofs.
The Demolition Workaround
Press B to enter Build mode.
Click the middle mouse button to toggle Destroy mode.
Left-click the structure you want to remove.
The building disappears and its original material cost is refunded into your inventory, provided you have enough open slots to hold the returned items.
What You Get Back
The demolition refund returns the full original material cost of the structure. There is no penalty for demolishing and rebuilding other than the time spent and the need for inventory space to catch the refund.
Removed By Demolition | Returned To Inventory? |
|---|---|
The structure's own build materials | Yes, 100 percent, as long as you have free slots |
Items stored inside a station (for example Copper Ore left in a Smelting Furnace) | No, empty the station first or the contents are lost |
Overflow when inventory is full | Drops to the ground at the demolition site; pick it up before leaving |
Quest-locked structures during an active quest | Cannot be demolished until the quest is complete |
Limitations
If inventory slots are short, any overflow materials drop to the ground at the demolition site rather than being lost; pick them up before leaving to keep the 100% refund.
Demolition does not recover resources that were deposited into a station (e.g., Copper Ore inside a Smelting Furnace). Empty stations before demolishing.
Some quest-related structures cannot be demolished while the associated quest is active.
Practical Tips
Before demolishing a large station cluster (like a Charcoal Kiln + Smelting Furnace pair), drop a Storage Basket or chest nearby to catch the refund if your inventory is small.
Take screenshots of the layout before demolishing so you can replicate it at the new site.
Demolish a build outward from the roof down: removing roofs and upper floors before the walls and pillars beneath them avoids collapse warnings and keeps the refund tidy.
If you are only moving by a few meters, confirm the new placement is legal (within Bonfire range, correct roof state) before tearing down the original.
Future Feature
The ability to directly move buildings has been listed by community members as a top feature request. Watch the Patch Notes for future updates that may add a move tool or blueprint system.