By Ani Safaryan & Klaudio Muca
It's hard to imagine Shinbashi in Tokyo, without its iconic Nakagin Capsule Tower, designed by Kurokawa Kishou. Nakagin capsule tower is an example of a Japanese postwar architectural movement called Metabolism. Metabolistic approach in architecture fuses the architectural structure and the concept of biological growth into one. The capsule tower itself is a tall tower, that consists of many square detachable capsules, already equipped with all the necessary utilities. The capsules however, have an expiration point. They were meant to be replaced and renovated every 30 years. However, the capsules were never replaced. The building became outdated and in its current state, without an urgent intervention, this precious piece of architecture is destined to be abandoned and forgot. METABOLISM 2.0 is a new ecological vision of the old concepts. It's proposing to extend the existing supporting system of the tower and the capsules, pushing to the limits the structural capacities of such ecologically sustainable material, as wood. As the city of Tokyo will grow, the demand for housing will increase even more, than it is now. The capsular system will follow the increasing needs for habitation units and will expand on the whole district or even further.
