#31: Stacks of Boxes
Okay, they aren’t death boxes, but they are living and that is almost worse. The Nakagin Capsule Tower was the brainchild of Kisho Kurokawa in 1972. It’s yet another example of the Japanese architectural movement called Metabolism. Over the years, parts have been condemned, though a few units are still in use.
Hot water hasn’t been available to unit owners since 2010 and was recently sold back to the original landowner. It will be interesting to see what happens, as this was a cultural experiment that didn’t go quite as well as planned. Many argue that it’s a cultural revolution and should stand as is, while others say a renovation would greatly help the surrounding neighborhood.