fala atelier presents anticlimax: a report on the metabolist dream

fala atelier presents anticlimax: a report on the metabolist dream
image © fala atelier
all images courtesy of fala atelier

exhibiting the contemporary life of the ‘nakagin capsule tower’ in tokyo, oporto-based studio fala atelier presents, ‘anticlimax: a report on the metabolist dream’. featured as part of the 2013 lisbon architecture triennale, the layout of the installation exposes the current state of the famous metabolism icon that was originally designed by kisho kurokawa and built in 1972. the building is displayed here in an almost negligent way, reflecting its condition through different scales and a sense of repetition across the sinel de cordes palace. the former metabolist superstar of the renowned japanese architectural movement represented a new typology and a radical approach to the idea of urban renewal, which still has relevance today. nevertheless, forty years later it is clear that something went wrong along the way. the structure is mostly empty with many of the capsules left abandoned, rotting and leaking. each capsule was intended to last twenty years, but twice that time has since passed. metabolism’s biggest icon is sick and stands today only as a remembrance of a future that never happened.

the exhibition displays the current daily life of the ‘nakagin capsule tower’ in tokyo
image © fala atelier

the famous metabolism icon was originally designed by kisho kurokawa and built in 1972
image © fala atelier

the layout of the installation reflects its abandoned condition with different scales and a sense of repetition
image © fala atelier

the former metabolist superstar represented a new typology and a radical approach to the idea of urban renewal
image © fala atelier

the structure itself is mostly empty with many of the capsules left abandoned, rotting and leaking
image © fala atelier

signage for the installation
image © diogo lopes

detail of the structure that was installed as part of the exhibition
image © diogo lopes

metabolism’s biggest icon is sick and stands today only as a remembrance of a future that never happened
image © diogo lopes

overview of the anticlimax: a report on the metabolist dream
image © fala atelier 

axonometric
image © fala atelier

plan and section
image © fala atelier

project info:

exhibition: anticlimax: a report on the metabolist dream. nakagin capsule tower, tokyo 1972-2013
location: palácio sinel de cordes, lisbon, portugal (2013 lisbon architecture triennale)
dates: 25.10.2013 – 15.12.2013
architecture/curators: fala atelier
exhibition contents: filipe magalhães + ana luisa soares
graphic design: sandra shizuka + pedro gonçalves
sponsors: medidata/ for your home/ catari

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