Kurokawa himself experimented with movable architecture before he moved on to developing the capsules that formed the living quarters of “Capsule summer house K” and “Nakagin Capsule Tower”. In 1970 he presented a project called “Moving Capsule” in which he experiments with living in a minimal space hauled around behind a jeep, and in a way points out the connection between Capsule homes and movable architecture such as traditional Japanese “Kago” or mobile chairs cited by Kurokawa13 and modern camping trailers. Expo’70 Takara Beautillion In 1970 Kurokawa contributed with three pavilions to the World Fair in Osaka, one being the “Capsule for Living” which explored the capsule home. It was nested within the great space frame roof designed by Kenzo Tange. Another was the Takara Beautillion, it explored a capsule plug in system in a space frame resting on solid basement. The upper four floors of the Takara Beautillion consisted of a space frame housing capsules and prefabricated concrete floors. The Takara beautillion both showcased qualities the metabolist movement explored, such as potential for growth over time, adaptability and prefabrication and looked the part, the open ends of the space frame protruded like arms ready to grab a hold of the next frame unit. The pavilion managed to intrigue Torizo Watanabe, president of the real estate firm Nakagin Co. and he later approached Kurokawa with a proposal to design another capsule building in Tokyo.14
Kago, Katsushika Hokusai, 1810 17
Takara Beautillion, Kisho Kurokawa, 1970 18
Nakagin Capsule Tower - 1972 The building Kurokawa designed for Nakagin Co. is divided in to two basic components; the superstructure, being the base and two shafts containing stairs and elevators, and the 144 capsules containing single apartments that are attached to the cores with four high tension bolts. The two towers of 11 and 13 storeys are connected every third floor. The lifespan of the superstructure was planned to be sixty years, while the capsules were planned to replaced every 25-30 years keeping with the Metabolists ideas of regeneration. Kurokawa implied that the lifespan of 25 to 30 years was not dependent on the capsules physical structure, but rather on social factors in a fast moving society.15 The capsules measure 2,5 x 4 x 2,5 meters externally and 2,3 x 3.8 x 2,1 internally. The living spaces were intended as a new type of work/living space for high level employees working in the Ginza district that already owned a house or apartment but were looking for a space in Tokyo for occasional overnight stays or work. The internal living area of about 8,5 square meters make the capsules interesting as examples of minimal living. One major issue with the capsules is that electronic equipment is embedded into the walls to save space, that equipment includes a 1970 color TV and tape recorder. Changes in the capsules are difficult to make due to the usage of asbestos in the construction, and the walls are best left alone. In fact, a proposal by Kurokawa to contain the asbestos fibers includes sealing internal joints in the units.16 13. Koolhaas, Obrist, p. 336. 14. Z. Lin, Kenzo Tange and the Metabolist Movement: Urban Utopias of Modern Japan, Abingdon, Routledge, 2010, p 235. 15. Lin, p. 236 16. Kisho Kurokawa, “Recent situation about Nakagin Capsule Tower”, http://www.kisho.co.jp/page.php/276 , 2006, (Accessed 1 October 2014) 17. K. Hokusai, Traveler in a Palanquin, 1810, http://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/206632, Accessed 2 October 2014 18. K. Kurokawa, Takara Beautillion cross section, http://www.pinterest.com/pin/302515299944212516/, Accessed 2 October 2014 19. Arcspace, Nakagin Capsule Tower, http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1297300755-naka11.jpg, Accessed 2 October 2014 Nakagin Capsule Tower, Photo: Arcspace 19