In Japan, the futuristic Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo soon dismantled to be saved

By wetretrjyu
15/10/2022
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C'est peut-être le début de la renaissance d'une utopie architecturale. La Nakagin Capsule Tower devrait bientôt être démantelée. Symbole futuriste du quartier de Shimbashi à Tokyo depuis 1972, cet immeuble résidentiel est un assemblage de quatorze capsules de préfabriqué de 10 m² fixées à une structure en béton à l'aide de quatre boulons. Une partie de ces cellules devraient être remises en état puis transférées à des musées ou vendues. Mais l'immeuble ne serait pas détruit pour autant, une campagne de financement participatif a été lancée pour restaurer les autres cellules. L'œuvre de l'architecte japonais Kisho Kurokawa devrait être remise à neuf par le bureau d'urbanisme Chiyoda-ku. Au Japon, la futuriste Nakagin Capsule Tower à Tokyo bientôt démantelée pour être sauvée

To read USTADAO Ando, the emperor of architecture

Au Japon, la futuriste Nakagin Capsule Tower à Tokyo bientôt démantelée pour être sauvée

The Nakagin Capsule Tower is originally designed to be renewed every 25 years, has nevertheless been the subject of any renovations due to the cost (estimated at 90.000 dollars per capsules) and the complexity of the work read to the unique architecture of the building.

After failing to find a buyer, the owners decided to dismantle the tower in order to preserve it.The campaign aims to finance the renovation of capsules that should be given to museums or sold.A capsule is already exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in Japan and some sources say that the Center Pompidou would also like to acquire one for its permanent collection.

"Aging has been a major problem in recent years," said Tatsuyuki Maeda, who has fifteen capsules to a local newspaper."I was looking for an owner who would leave the building standing while repairing it.We believe that it is difficult for the association which manages the building to take measures against aging, "he added.

This building is the first construction of the metabolic movement, a group of Japanese architects from the 1970s who imagined the city of the future.They were inspired by organic biology to think of the great urban cities where a large part of the population was concentrated.

“The Tower capsule is not only a superb architecture;Like all large buildings, it is the crystallization of a vast cultural ideal.Its existence is also a powerful reminder of the non -taken paths, the possibility of worlds shaped by different standards of values, "said the former architectural critic of the New York Times, Nicolai Ouroussoff to underline the importance of keeping such a work.