These dystopian Japanese capsule apartments are the picture of modern efficiency.
Have you ever wanted to live in a washing machine? If you have, keep reading.
The Nakagin Tower, designed by Kisho Kurokawa is a result of the experimental architecture of the mid 20th Century. It is made up of two separate towers and 140 prefabricated dystopian capsules that serve as tiny little apartments. The idea was that the capsules could just be switched out as times changed, so each apartment contains a kitchen stove, fridge, TV, and a reel-to-reel tape deck. Obviously, they didn’t follow through with their plan to update things.
Unfortunately tower living was basically unbearable since the apartments were only 8 X 12 X 7 ft, and living in a concrete shell was dehumanizing. Who knew?
In April of 2007, the building was slated for demolition, but the architecture community rose up and saved it. As of right now it sits empty, waiting for someone to come along and change it from a building full of mini washing machine apartment to something somebody might actually want to live in.
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