Limited space in Tokyo has led its architects to develop an attitude
towards the impermanence of architectural creations and embrace the ephemerality
of architecture. The buildings in Tokyo get demolished fast to give way to the new
ones, which, again, exist temporarily as a part of the built environment
until another need for land arises. Therefore, some call Tokyo "a dream machine",
"a city of processes, not a monument". In this light, it seems consequential
that the Nakagin Capsule Tower can be made to become a part of an archive in the form
of visual representation with the sole purpose of giving way to the newer erections
to satisfy the immediate needs of the Tokyo residents.
towards the impermanence of architectural creations and embrace the ephemerality
of architecture. The buildings in Tokyo get demolished fast to give way to the new
ones, which, again, exist temporarily as a part of the built environment
until another need for land arises. Therefore, some call Tokyo "a dream machine",
"a city of processes, not a monument". In this light, it seems consequential
that the Nakagin Capsule Tower can be made to become a part of an archive in the form
of visual representation with the sole purpose of giving way to the newer erections
to satisfy the immediate needs of the Tokyo residents.
However, it seems to be worth to preserve this built piece of architecture as a
monument to the memory of once active and architecturally significant Metabolist
movement and one of its foundets, Kisho Kurokawa. The concepts presented by the Metabolists at the World Design Conference in Tokyo, 1960 and the EXPO in Osaka, 1970 proposed possible solutions not only to the land problem in Japan, but also became and, perhaps, still are sources of inspiration for the architects across the world. If the capsule hotel is demolished, what will be left of it except for the images? The testament to the work of Metabolists, their efforts, and, namely, Kisho Kurokawa will forever disappear and only exist as a memory in the minds of its former residents, occasional internet surfers, and avid followers of the Metabolist ideas. The work shows is an attempt to monumentalize the hotel and show its interaction with tis subjects to assert the hotel's consequence in the architectural discourse from 41 years ago and on and argue
against its demolition.
monument to the memory of once active and architecturally significant Metabolist
movement and one of its foundets, Kisho Kurokawa. The concepts presented by the Metabolists at the World Design Conference in Tokyo, 1960 and the EXPO in Osaka, 1970 proposed possible solutions not only to the land problem in Japan, but also became and, perhaps, still are sources of inspiration for the architects across the world. If the capsule hotel is demolished, what will be left of it except for the images? The testament to the work of Metabolists, their efforts, and, namely, Kisho Kurokawa will forever disappear and only exist as a memory in the minds of its former residents, occasional internet surfers, and avid followers of the Metabolist ideas. The work shows is an attempt to monumentalize the hotel and show its interaction with tis subjects to assert the hotel's consequence in the architectural discourse from 41 years ago and on and argue
against its demolition.
This text was written back in 2015 at an architectural course at University of Michigan by me, a person who knows about Tokyo from the texts and images. I have not been to Tokyo yet, but would love to hear the opinions of the Tokyo residents. If there are any here on behance, please feel free to comment or send me a message. Thankful in advance.
