Nakagin Capsule Tower
| Nakagin Capsule Tower Building | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of the Nakagin Capsule Tower Building area | |
| 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 | Kisho Kurokawa |
| Structural engineer | Gengo Matsui |
The Nakagin Capsule Tower Building 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, the building was a rare remaining example of Japanese Metabolism 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.
Due to aging and land sale, in 2022, demolition of the building was initiated. Attempts to raise funds to save it and campaigns to preserve it as a historic landmark were unsuccessful. The tower was disassembled starting on 12 April 2022, with 23 component units decided to be preserved, and repurposed elsewhere.