1. 1.

METABOLISM
2. 2. INTRODUCTION The word metabolism describes the process of maintaining living
cells. Young Japanese architects after World War II used this word to describe their
beliefs about how buildings and cities should be designed. The postwar reconstruction of
Japan's cities spawned new ideas about the future of urban design and public spaces
3. 3. Metabolist architects and designers believed that cities and buildings are not static
entities, but are ever-changing—organic with a "metabolism.“ Postwar structures of the
future are thought to have a limited lifespan and should be designed and built to be
replaced. Metabolically designed architecture is built around a spine-like infrastructure
with prefabricated, replaceable cell-like parts easily attached. These 1960s avant-garde
ideas became known as Metabolism.
4. 4. ORIGIN OF METABOLISM Kenzo Tange was invited to the CIAM '59 in
Netherlands. In what was to be the last meeting of CIAM he presented two theoretical
projects by the architect Kiyonori Kikutake- the Tower-shaped City and Kikutake's own
home, the Sky House. This presentation exposed the Metabolist movement to its first
international audience. Like Team 10's "human association" concepts Metabolism too
was exploring new concepts in urban design.
5. 5. Tower-shaped City was a 300 metre tall tower that housed the infrastructure for an
entire city. The Sky House is a platform supported on four concrete panels with a
hyperbolic parabolic shell roof.
6. 6. CHARATERISTICS Organic urban design and reconstruction, Recycling,
Organic growth and change, Prefabrication, Expansion and contraction based on
need, Mega structure infrastructure (core), Attachable / detachable substructure,
Replaceable units (cells or pods), sustainability
7. 7. “The attention to detail is also an important key to understand my own architecture.”
8. 8. NAKAGIN CAPSULE TOWER The Nakagin Capsule Tower is a mixed-use
residential and office tower designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa and located in
Shimbashi, Tokyo, Japan.
9. 9. Completed in 1972, the building is a rare remaining example of Japanese Metabolism
The Nakagin Capsule Tower realizes the ideas of metabolism, exchangeability,
recyclability as the prototype of sustainable architecture.
10. 10. The building is actually composed of two interconnected concrete towers,
respectively eleven and thirteen floors , which house 140 prefabricated modules Each
capsule is connected to one of the two main shafts only by four high-tension bolts and is
designed to be replaceable. Design, construction and usage
11. 11. The capsule is designed to accommodate the individual as either an apartment or
studio space, and by connecting units can also accommodate a family. Each capsule
measures 2.3 m (7.5 ft) × 3.8 m (12 ft) × 2.1 m (6.9 ft) and functions as a small living or
office space.
12. 12. Construction occurred on site and off site. The capsules were fitted with utilities
and interior fittings before being shipped to the building site, where they were attached to
the concrete towers. The capsules are all- welded lightweight steel- truss boxes clad in
galvanized, rib-reinforced steel panels.
13. 13. The cores are rigid-frame, made of a steel frame and reinforced concrete. From the
basement to the second floor, ordinary concrete was used; above those levels, lightweight
concrete was used. . In order to make early use of the staircase, precast concrete was
used in the floor plates and the elevator shafts. On-site construction of the elevators was
shortened by incorporating the 3-D frames, the rails, and anchor indicator boxes in the
precast concrete elements and by employing prefabricated cages.