In 2022, the tower was dismantled, but its story did not end there. Twenty-three capsules were salvaged to continue their journey, and the entire building has been digitally preserved thanks to the efforts of the Japanese firm Gluon. Through scanning technology, they created a precise 3D visualization of the structure:
Life After Death: The Nakagin Capsule TowerEven after the demolition of one of Japan’s most recognizable postwar architectural landmarks, the Nakagin Capsule Tower, its legacy continues. A preservation and restoration project managed to save 23 capsules before the building’s dismantling. The interiors of 14 capsules were fully restored, while others have been transformed into creative spaces, exhibits, and even vacation accommodations. Here’s what became of some of them:
・ Capsule A1302, which once belonged to the tower’s architect, Kisho Kurokawa, was acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in the U.S.
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SFMOMA・ Several capsules are displayed at museums designed by Kurokawa himself—the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama Prefecture (1982), and the Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama Prefecture (1994).
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Wakayama Museum・One capsule was purchased by steel manufacturer Yodogawa Steel Works Ltd. and converted into a mobile trailer. It now travels to various exhibitions across Japan, representing the company’s design brand, YODOKO+.
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view・Two capsules were transformed into creative spaces as part of the “SHUTL” cultural promotion project in Tokyo’s Ginza district.
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SHUTL Project・Most intriguing, five capsules will be placed in a coastal park in the city of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. Their porthole windows will face the Pacific Ocean, creating a "capsule village" where visitors can stay.
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Nagai Uminote Park Soleil HillName: Nakagin Capsule Tower / 中銀カプセルタワー
City: Tokyo
Address: view the addressArchitect
: Kisho Kurokawa
Completion Year: 1972
Demolition Year: 2022
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