The Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo, Japan is considered the world's first modular building. It consists of 140 prefabricated steel capsules stacked around a central concrete core. Each detachable and replaceable capsule measures 2.5m x 4.5m x 2.5m and contains a bathroom, kitchenette, and living space. Designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa in 1972 based on his concept of metabolism, the capsules were intended to be replaceable as needs and technology changed over time, though lack of maintenance has now threatened the landmark structure.

1. LOCATION:
16-10, GINZA 8-CHOME,CHUO-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
BUILDING STATISTICS:
SITE AREA: 442 M2
BUILDING AREA: 430 M2
TOTAL FLOOR AREA: 3,091 M2
STRUCTURE DETAILS:
STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME PARTLY ENCASED IN
CONCRETE
MAX OF 140 CAPSULE UNITS (PREFABRICATED)
11-13 STORIES INCLUDING 1 BASEMENT
MATERIAL DETAILS:
CAPSULE EXTERIOR: STEEL WITH SPRAYED PAINT FINISH
CAPSULE INTERIOR: STEEL CAPSULE WITH CLOTH CEILING
AND FLOOR CARPET
TOWERS: CORTEN STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME
LOWER LEVELS: FAIR-FACED REINFORCED CONCRETE
NAKAGIN CAPSULE TOWER (中銀カプセルタワー)
KISHO KUROKAWA
KRISHNA JHAWAR,B.ARCH 4TH YEAR,VASTU KALA ACADEMY

2. THE STRUCTURE :
REPUTED TO BE THE WORLD’S FIRST
STRUCTURE THAT IMPLEMENTED THE
INNOVATIVE IDEA OF CAPSULE
ARCHITECTURE, KISHO
KUROKAWA DESIGNED THE NAKAGIN
CAPSULE TOWER BASED OFF OF HIS
SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPT CALLED
“METABOLISM”.
THE NAKAGIN CAPSULE TOWER IS A “MIXED-
SYSTEM” STRUCTURE, UTILIZING BOTH
TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE WITH MODERN
TECHNOLOGY WITHIN ONE ENTITY. IT IS
MADE OF TWO REINFORCED CONCRETE AND
STEEL FRAME PILLARS OF ASYMMETRIC
HEIGHTS, BOTH HOUSING PUBLIC UTILITIES
SUCH AS STAIRS, ELEVATORS, PLUMBING,
AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
THE 14-STORY HIGH TOWER HAS 140
CAPSULES STACKED AT ANGLES AROUND THE
CENTRAL CORE. KUROKAWA DEVELOPED THE
TECHNOLOGY TO INSTALL THE CAPSULE
UNITS INTO THE CONCRETE CORE WITH ONLY
4 HIGH-TENSION BOLTS, AS WELL AS MAKING
THE UNITS DETACHABLE AND REPLACEABLE.

3. THE CAPSULE :
THE STEEL FRAME CAPSULES (WHICH HAVE BEEN
DESIGNED TO BE REPLACEABLE, REMOVABLE, AND
TRANSPORTABLE) WERE PREFABRICATED IN SPECIALIST
FACTORIES AND ASSEMBLED AT A PLANT BEFORE
BEING DELIVERED TO THE SITE. EACH ONE WAS LIFTED
BY MECHANICAL CRANES AND WERE ATTACHED TO
THE TOWER SHAFTS USING 4 HIGH-TENSION BOLTS
THE CAPSULE INTERIOR WAS PRE-ASSEMBLED IN A
FACTORY THEN HOISTED BY CRANE AND FASTENED TO
THE CONCRETE CORE SHAFT.
DETAIL OF SYSTEM OF CAPSULE JOINIG TO SHAFT

4. INSIDE THE CAPSULE(2.5M X 4.5 X 2.5M) :
KUROKAWA’S DESIGN CONCEPT FOCUSES ON HOW TO MAKE THE
MOST EFFICIENT USE OF LIVING SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THE
EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS OF A PERSON. HE BORROWED THE
“CAPSULE” TERMINOLOGY FROM THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
(ALREADY AWARE THAT MANY SPACESHIPS HAVE IMPLEMENTED
THE IDEA OF EFFICIENT AREA-USAGE) AND RETROFITTED A
RECTANGULAR CABIN OF 8 FEET BY 12 FEET FLOOR SPACE WITH A
BUILT-IN BATHROOM, DOUBLE BED, DESK, STORAGE SPACES, TV,
TAPEDECK, TYPEWRITER, CALCULATOR, CLOCK RADIO, AND A 2-
BURNER STOVE. IT WAS PLANNED AS A FUTURISTIC NICHE FOR
MODERN BUSINESSMEN IN TOKYO.

5. CONCLUSION :
RESIDENTS IN JAPAN’S
MOST FAMOUS
EXPERIMENT IN LIVING
AND WORKING IN TINY
PODS ARE NOW PLOTTING
ITS DEMOLITION.
KUROKAWA'S DESIGN
THEORY WAS TO REPLACE
THE CAPSULES WHEN
NEEDED BUT THE
BUILDING HAS NOT BEEN
MAINTAINED IN 33 YEARS
WHICH HAS CAUSED
DRAINAGE AND WATER
PIPES TO BE DAMAGED.
THE INTERNATIONAL
HERITAGE PROTECTION
GROUP DOCOMOMO,
HAVE UNSUCCESSFULLY
PLEADED FOR THE UNITED
NATIONS' HERITAGE ARM
TO PROTECT THIS
LANDMARK BUILDING.