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Nagakin Capsule tower
Nagakin Capsule tower is the first capsule architecture design. The module was created with the intention of housing traveling businessmen that worked in central Tokyo during the week. It is a prototype for the architecture of sustainability and recyclability, as each module can be plugged into the central core and replaced or exchanged when necessary.
A total of 140 capsules are stacked and rotated at varying angles around a central core, standing 14-stories high. The technology developed by Kurokawa allowed each unit to be installed to the concrete core with only 4 high-tension bolts, which keeps the units replaceable. Each capsule measures 4 x 2.5 meters, permitting enough room for one person to live comfortably. The interior space of each module can be manipulated by connecting the capsule to other capsules.
This unique take on apartments and high-rises in Tokyo is a prime example of the Metabolism architecture movement of Kisho, known for its focus on adaptable, growing, and interchangeable building designs. Metabolism collaborates engineers, scientists, designers, and industrial designers. Thus enhancing transcultural collaborations.
The Tower thus stands as a living fossil offering a comprehensive lesson in the success and failure of post-war avant-gardes.
Vedant Khedekar
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