| Nakagin Capsule Tower Building | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Residential, office |
| Architectural style | Metabolism |
| Location | 8 Chome-16-10 Ginza, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō-to 104-0061, Japan |
| Coordinates | 35°39′56.20″N 139°45′48.20″E / 35.6656111°N 139.7633889°E |
| Construction started | 1970 |
| Completed | 1972 |
| Demolished | 2022 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 13 |
| Floor area | 3,091.23 m2 (33,273.7 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Kisho Kurokawa |
| Structural engineer | Gengo Matsui |
The Nakagin Capsule Tower Building[a] was a mixed-use residential and office tower in the upscale Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa. Completed in two years from 1970 to 1972,[1]: 388 the building was a rare remaining example of Japanese Metabolism[2]: 105 alongside the older Kyoto International Conference Center, an architectural movement emblematic of Japan's postwar cultural resurgence. It was the world's first example of capsule architecture ostensibly built for permanent and practical use. The building, however, fell into disrepair. Around thirty of the 140 capsules were still in use as apartments by October 2012, while others were used for storage or office space, or simply abandoned and allowed to deteriorate. As recently as August 2017 capsules could still be rented (relatively inexpensively, considering its Ginza locale), although the waiting list was long.[3]
In 2022, demolition of the building was initiated.[4] Attempts to raise funds to save it and campaigns to preserve it as a historic landmark were unsuccessful.[5][6][7] The tower was scheduled to be disassembled starting April 12, 2022, with component units repurposed.[3][5]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Koolhaas, Rem; Obrist, Hans Ulrich (2011). Kayoko Oda; James Westcott (eds.). Project Japan: Metabolism Talks... Taschen. ISBN 978-3836525084.
- ^ Kurokawa, Kishō (28 March 2009) [1977]. Metabolism in architecture. London: Studio Vista. ISBN 9780289707333.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
ArchDailywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Russell, Chris (12 April 2022). "Demolition of Tokyo's iconic Nakagin Capsule Tower officially begins". The Japan Times. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ a b "CNN: Tokyo's iconic Nakagin Capsule Tower to be demolished". CNN. 6 April 2022.
- ^ "An ode to Tokyo's Nakagin Capsule Tower". The Economist. 12 April 2022.
- ^ Falor, Sanskriti (7 April 2022). "Explained Desk: Explained Why Japan's Nakagin Capsule Tower Being Demolished". Indian Express.