The Nakagin Capsule Tower, designed by Kisho Kurokawa in 1972, embodied the Metabolist vision of adaptable architecture. After its 2022 demolition, 23 capsules were salvaged through efforts led by Tatsuyuki Maeda. These units, created for business travelers with compact amenities, are now being restored or reimagined globally. Some capsules have been acquired by museums like SFMOMA, while others are used for cultural exhibitions or as mobile structures. Furthermore, Japanese consultancy Gluon has digitally preserved the tower through 3D scanning, offering virtual experiences and discussions about architectural replicas through NFTs.
Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, designed in 1972, was intended to embody the principles of Metabolism, exploring concepts of growth and change inspired by biological processes. This postwar architectural movement in Japan sought to create structures resembling living organisms that could evolve, expand, and adapt to new conditions. The tower featured 140 identical capsule units, each individually bolted to two central shafts, with the idea that the capsules would be replaced every 25 years to maintain flexibility. However, the concept proved impractical, and nearly 50 years later, the building was largely demolished. Nevertheless, 23 capsules were salvaged, now dispersed globally, continuing to showcase Metabolist ideals in diverse settings.
In 2014, the Nakagin Capsule Tower Preservation and Restoration Project brought together owners, residents, management associations, and Kisho Kurokawa Architects to revive the Metabolist vision by starting the process of replacing the capsules. By 2021, with the tower facing demolition due to structural concerns and asbestos, the project shifted its focus to salvaging as many capsules as possible. Under the leadership of former resident Tatsuyuki Maeda, the nonprofit organization succeeded in rescuing 23 capsules before the building was demolished in 2022.
The units were originally targeted at businessmen frequently visiting Tokyo. Each capsule offered a compact living space of only 10 square meters, featuring essentials such as a private bathroom, bed, and fold-out desk. The capsules were equipped with cutting-edge 1970s technology, including a reel-to-reel tape player, a TV, and a rotary dial phone.
Following the challenging removal process, overseen by Kisho Kurokawa Architects and Associates, the capsules were stored in a warehouse in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo. Of the 23 salvaged units, 14 are planned for restoration to their original condition, complete with the 1970s electronic gadgets. The remaining capsules have been stripped down, allowing their new owners to reimagine and customize the interiors, according to The Guardian.
According to the Los Angeles Times, several capsules were initially displayed outside the Museum of Modern Art in Saitama, another Kisho Kurokawa-designed building. Earlier in 2023, Capsule A1302, once owned by the architect himself, was acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in the United States. The capsule now joins SFMOMA’s collection of Japanese architectural works, including pieces by fellow Metabolist Fumihiko Maki and photographs by Noritaka Minami, who captured life in the Nakagin Tower in the decade before its demolition.
It’s so rare to collect a 1-to-1 scale piece of architecture. It can fit inside, outside, and that’s phenomenal for us. The Metabolists fit well with Lebbeus Woods and Archigram, which are also in the collection. … But it’s generally hard to find material related to Metabolism on offer.
– Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher, SFMOMA’s curator of architecture and design
According to The Japan Times, one of the capsules was purchased by Yodogawa Steel Works, an Osaka-based steelmaker. The company reduced the capsule’s weight and added wheels, transforming it into the “Moving Nakagin capsule,” which has been exhibited across Japan. Now representing Yodogawa’s YODOKO+ design brand, the capsule has traveled to locations including the Shin Science Classroom at Kogakuin University Shinjuku Campus and the exhibition hall at the Ichikawa factory.
Two additional capsules will be installed by entertainment company Shochiku at a cultural promotion hub set to open in Ginza, Japan. As reported on the Nakagin Capsule Tower Preservation and Restoration Project’s Instagram, these capsules will be part of the “SHUTL” project, repurposed as creative spaces for displaying contemporary art. The project is scheduled to open on October 12th with an exhibition titled “Traditional Metabolism – Words and Letters” by artists Tahi Saika, Shun Sasaki, Masahide Matsuda, and Ryu Mieno.
The Museum of Modern Art in Wakayama announced that it would display capsule A908, which arrived at the institution on August 24, 2023. The museum, also designed by Kisho Kurokawa and completed in 1994 in Wakayama Prefecture, stated that visitors would initially be able to view only the exterior of the capsule, with plans to open the interior for exploration at a later date.
We want to take an approach of diversity because the building was loved by a wide variety of people. I want to continue doing new things to preserve the capsules as part of history.
– Tatsuyuki Maeda for The Japan Times
Some capsules remain unclaimed, but Tatsuyuki Maeda hopes they will find homes in museums, cultural hubs, hotels, and other institutions globally, continuing to promote Metabolist ideals and inspire people. Fans of Kisho Kurokawa’s work can also book a stay in “Capsule House K” via Airbnb. This earlier building, often called the ‘younger brother’ of the Nakagin Capsule Tower, is located in the mountains near Karuizawa and features similar capsule designs with circular windows, reflecting Kurokawa’s exploration of Metabolist concepts.
Japanese digital consultancy Gluon took a different approach to preserving the Nakagin Capsule Tower by using 3D scanning technologies to document the building before its demolition. This process enables a digital recreation of the tower, allowing it to be explored virtually, and fostering academic research and creative projects. Furthermore, Gluon developed an Augmented Reality (AR) system that lets users experience the building in 3D on their smartphones, simulating entry into the capsules as in a video game. The rights to rebuild the tower, both digitally in the metaverse and physically, are being auctioned through NFT platforms, sparking debate about the nature of architectural replicas.
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