Amongst the apartment high rises and office buildings in Tokyo's Ginza area stands the futuristic Nakagin Capsule Tower. Reminiscent of buildings from early 80s science-fiction movies, the 14 story building tower is composed of 140 individual capsules that function as apartments and business offices.  

Constructed in 1972, the tower is a prime example of Kisho’s Metabolism architecture movement that focused on adaptable, growing, and interchangeable building designs. Metabolism — the word suggesting organic growth that responds to its environment — influenced every step of the tower’s construction. The capsules were manufactured in a factory in Shiga Prefecture and transported to Tokyo by truck. They were then attached to the tower’s central beam. The capsules were designed to be removable and replaceable from the central beam. Even the seemingly small space inside the capsules can be modified — it can be increased by connecting capsules to other capsules. The tower’s simple, minimalist design was deliberate. As a Metabolist building, Kisho believed that the inherent beauty of materials like concrete and steel meant that they didn’t need any special modifications or decorations.

The future of the tower is currently uncertain, with maintenance issues and lack of support for preservation the tower could likely be demolished. We suggest, if you happen to be in Tokyo anytime soon, that you pay a visit to this interesting Tower.