Warm up
—- * * FOR NEW STUDENTS ** ————————————— ————
- What industry do you work in and what is your role?
- What are your responses in your role / position?
- Can you describe to the function of your workplace / company?
- How many departments, how many offices. National or International?
- What are the minimum requirements for employment ie Education or Experience?
- How many opportunities are there to ‘move up the ladder’?
- What is the process for changing job roles ie Interview? Test?
————————————————– —— ——————————————————
- Current projects? Deadlines? Opportunities?
- Anything of interest happening?
————————————————————————————————————
1. The Nakagin Capsule Tower Building, known outside Japan as the Nakagin Capsule Tower, is a mixed-use residential and office tower designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa and located in Shimbashi, Tokyo, Japan. However, a lack of funding meant the Nakagin Capsule Tower’s tiny homes which were designed to be rotated out and replaced every 25 years was never realised, leading to their dilapidation.
2. Completed in two years from 1970 to 1972, the building is a rare remaining example of Japanese Metabolism, an architectural movement emblematic of Japan’s postwar cultural resurgence. It was the world’s first example of capsule architecture ostensibly built for permanent and practical use. The building still exists but has fallen into disrepair.
3. The building comprises two interconnected concrete towers, onto which 140 prefabricated steel capsules are bolted. Plans to disassemble the tower were confirmed last year, prompting residents to begin crowdfunding to preserve, donate or relocate the capsules. One of the groups retaining a module is named the Nakagin Capsule Tower A606 Project, which is restoring and modifying the capsule numbered A606.
Have you heard of the Nakagin Capsule Tower before? Do you think the building should be
preserved?
4. This week, people are debating the dismantling of the metabolist Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo. The Nakagin Capsule Tower, an iconic Japanese housing block in Tokyo, is being demolished due to the decay of its concrete and steel structure. Its interiors are in the process of being emptied out in preparation for asbestos removal, after which the building will be completely disassembled.
5. Readers are divided. “An astonishing space!” said one commenter. “Architecture was brave once. Today’s is just sad.” Tim Humphreys agreed “I hope some design museum buys at least one capsule and saves it for prosperity. “Architecture in Japan has always been seen as an ephemeral art and Kurokawa would appreciate that his work is finite,” replied Jay Cee.
6. Walter Astor felt differently: “Architects who claim to like this crude building should be forced to live in one of the ‘pods’ for a year or more. Only direct experience of the de-humanising severity of this appalling building would cure them of their elitist and misguided pretensions.”
What is a place or building that was torn down or closed in your lifetime? When was it torn down or closed? Why was it torn down or closed?
7. The process of disassembling the Tower started on April 12, 2022, with component units being repurposed. Funding to save it and efforts to have it preserved as an historic landmark were unavailing. The building is being disassembled, not merely torn down.
8. Prior to 12 April, Akiko Ishimaru representative of the Nakagin Capsule Tower A606 Project has been documenting the building with measurements, photos, videos and 3D scans. The group plans to preserve one of the pods and transform it into a “mobile capsule”, which it said will honour “Kurokawa’s concept of architecture in motion“ and adaptability.
9. Twentieth century architecture is under threat in cities around the world. One of the most vulnerable styles is brutalism – buildings characterised by bold monolithic forms cast from concrete. In the USA alone, brutalist icons including Paul Rudolph’s Burroughs Wellcome building and Shoreline Apartments are among those to have fallen victim to the wrecking ball.
Do you think that more buildings should have iconic designs, or do you think Architecture should
be purely functional?Phonetic Chart
