The building, which was supposed to last forever, is now to be demolished

Nothing will last forever

Although capsule apartments are nothing new today, fifty years ago, when they were first born in Japan, they were not only a landmark in Ginza, Tokyo, but also an epoch-making futuristic masterpiece.

Next month, however, the Zhongyin Capsule Tower, a building made up of 140 identical capsules, will be demolished.

It is the most prestigious work of the late Japanese architect Noriaki Kurokawa. Kurokawa, along with Isozaki Shin and Tadao Ando, was a representative of the "Metabolism" movement in the 1960s.

He had predicted that the capsule tower could stand for at least two hundred years, and that if new capsules were constantly replaced with new ones, they might even exist forever.

However, the fiftieth anniversary has not yet arrived, and when the snow-white façade is covered with the traces of age due to poor maintenance, the city has "metabolized" it.

Fortunately, a mountain villa made of the same capsule was opened to the public for the first time this summer, still preserving a place for Kurokawa's architectural fantasies.

Living in capsules

The emergence of the Zhongyin Capsule Tower is a product of the times.

In the 1970s, Japan was experiencing an economic take-off, with young people frantically pouring into big cities such as Tokyo, causing housing prices to soar and traffic congestion.

So, in the center of Tokyo, where the land is scarce, it has become a blessing for single office workers. Not only are each 10 square meter room complete, but it takes only 10 minutes to get to the Shinbashi subway station from the building.

Although it took a total of two years to build, it took only a month to install the capsules.

This is because up to 140 capsules have been pre-prepared. Like building blocks, they were secured to the cement-poured core with four high-tension screws and successfully assembled into an 11- and 13-storey twin tower.

Only 10 square meters, each capsule can meet the functions of leisure, activities, storage, home appliances and beds are readily available, and there is an independent bathroom, which is completely enough for an adult's daily living.

However, there was no kitchen or washing machine in the room, because for the working class who were tired of overtime at the time, these two things were usually solved outside the house.

The compact layout, pure white façade, clean lines, and unique large round windows make it easy to think of the cabins of a ship or space station.

In fact, Kurokawa's inspiration really came from the spaceships of the former Soviet Union.

Kurokawa Kijo is inside the capsule

The walls are inlaid with Built-in TV, Stereo and other Sony appliances, the door panel can be opened to see the storage shelf, and there is an active desk, which can be used before it is put down, which can be described as the use of space to the extreme.

Such capsules are the cells that make up the building.

For Kurokawa, cities, like the human body, need the flexibility to adapt to the environment. Therefore, it should be constantly renewed, changed, and replaced by new cells for old cells, so as to revitalize.

He envisioned it perfectly, that if the capsules were replaced every 25 years, the whole building could survive for at least 200 years, and after its own metabolism, it would be forever young.

Even, every once in a while, the capsules can be broken up and reassembled once, so that residents can enjoy different lighting, ventilation environments, and overlook the changing cityscape.

Such fair use and collective symbiosis is not an exaggeration to say that it is "utopia".

Through the exact same circular opening, you can glimpse a thousand different lives.

Since its completion, the BOC Capsule Tower has hosted people of all ages from all over the world, including architects, designers and filmmakers. In addition to accommodation, different rooms have also been used as workshops, offices, and have undergone a wealth of creative transformations.

Since 2018, capsule towers have launched a monthly rental plan, and up to 200 people can experience a month of capsule life.

Among them, the most popular room type is cooperated with MUJI, with a monthly rent of 120,000 yen, about 7,000 yuan, and the decoration and furniture inside are designed by MUJI.

Looking out the round window, you can see the bustling streets of Tokyo.

Even a 10-square-meter nest is enough to shelter a drop in the ocean in the bustling city.

The "future" is still the future

At the 1970 Osaka World Expo, Kurokawa had already revealed his ambitions for the future.

At that time, he first proposed the concept of "capsule house", saying that the future he saw was an individual's pursuit of free flow.

The BOC Real Estate behind the capsule tower saw his amazing creation at the Expo and decided to invite him to design an apartment that spans the ages.

Kurokawa was one of the pavilions designed for the 1970 Osaka World Expo

However, history did not go as Kurokawa had imagined.

It has been nearly fifty years since the Zhongyin Capsule Tower was built, and not a single capsule has been replaced. Moreover, due to poor management, aging pipes have affected the use of hot water, broken walls have also brought asbestos pollution, and many abandoned capsules are even covered with mold.

Although the capsule tower has launched shooting rental, homestay rental and other businesses in the past few years, it is still difficult to sustain in the end, and this year, it has completely lost its vitality.

However, even if the building is no longer suitable for living objectively, it has not quietly faded out of sight, but has received a lot of regret from the public and celebrities.

In 2014, Mr. Maeda, a resident of the capsule tower, launched a "regeneration program." Previously, the plan was to try to bring the building back to life mainly through guided tours, monthly rentals, etc., but now it is hoped to buy and keep as many capsules as possible, donate them to museums, or transform them into new living spaces.

The latest crowdfunding for the regeneration program, which will end at the end of the month, has raised more than 5 million yen so far, five times the target amount.

The Saitama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, which is also a work by Kurokawa Kijo, has been fortunate enough to receive a capsule exhibit. The famous Centre Pompidou in Paris also expressed interest, but is still waiting in line because capsules are not available.

In addition to being a memorial to metabolic buildings, for many Japanese people, these capsules also carry a certain feeling.

In remembering the tower that once towered over Ginza, they may also remember the era of revival that envisioned a better future.

When the capsule comes to the mountains

It becomes a villa

The Silver Capsule Tower is disintegrating, but one of its siblings is being reborn.

A year after the capsule tower was built, Kurokawa Kijo used the same capsule to build himself a private villa, Capsule House K. Recently, through crowdfunding initiated by his son Mio Kurokawa, the cottage was restored and protected and opened to the public for the first time in July.

The villa is located on the hillside of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and offers panoramic views from under your feet. These capsules from the city have completely changed their appearance here, like real cells, organically blending into the mountains and forests.

Based on the living room on the first floor, a total of four capsules are attached to it, namely two bedrooms, a tea room, and a kitchen.

Unlike the pure white of Ginza, the entire living room is furnished with logs, and the spiral staircase connecting the second floor space is also made of wood, which does not have the shadow of the space capsule at all, but looks natural and elegant.

Through the huge round window with a folding fan diameter of two meters, there is a lush greenery in the forest.

When Kurokawa Himself lived here, he also gazed at the same greenery.

The tea room also gives this villa a more natural atmosphere of the mountains.

At first glance, tatami mats, stoves, and screens are all traditional Japanese styles, and only the round window in the center announces its own uniqueness.

Entering the bedroom, it is finally a familiar furnishing like the Nakagin Capsule Tower - the pure white arc world.

There are more squares in the kitchen.

The fridge, washing machine, sink, stove are all available here, and it is a more complete home than the capsule tower.

Although the Nakagin Capsule Tower is about to disappear from Ginza, Tokyo, the story of Kuroda And metabolism continues to be told, both in this forest hut and in the capsule rooms that will continue to appear as exhibits around the world.

Humans can't accurately predict the future, but at least, in a capsule, we can see an architect's dream of sheltering the world and keeping the city alive.