Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower and the Legacy of Japanese Metabolism

By thomai tsimpou I designboom · Designboom · 2026-08-19

Designboom examines the architectural history of the Nakagin Capsule Tower, a structure defined by its 140 prefabricated modules and two concrete cores. Completed in 1972, the building stood as a physical manifesto for Japanese Metabolism, treating urban housing as a biological s

Designboom examines the architectural history of the Nakagin Capsule Tower, a structure defined by its 140 prefabricated modules and two concrete cores. Completed in 1972, the building stood as a physical manifesto for Japanese Metabolism, treating urban housing as a biological s