Demolition of the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo’s Shimbashi district — an iconic representation of Japan’s metabolist architectural movement — officially kicked off Tuesday, with fans of the building showing up to take a last glimpse of the building.
Scaffolding will be erected around the structure before the tower’s capsules, known to architecture fans the world over for their boxy design and circular windows, are removed — a process that had yet to begin Tuesday, meaning the building’s facade remained unchanged. Demolition work is scheduled to last until Dec. 29.
A decision was made by the building’s management company and capsule owners in March 2021 to sell the site. That saw the land and capsules eventually transferred to the company Capsule Tower Building, which then moved ahead with demolition plans.