oscar diaz pays tribute to iconic nakagin capsule tower with playful wooden block set

oscar diaz recreates Japanese towers with wooden blocks

In his wooden block set, Oscar Diaz draws inspiration from Tokyo’s iconic Nakagin Capsule Tower, a mixed-use structure conceived by renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. 20 stackable wooden blocks and a hexagonal wooden base allow for endless combinations, encouraging creativity in reimagining the capsule tower’s unique form. Maintaining balance as blocks are added is the main goal, simulating the delicate equilibrium of the original building. Players continue stacking until only the red blocks remain, which must then be carefully placed on top, testing the stability of the entire creation. Crafted from beech wood and colored with water-based pigments, these pieces offer a tactile connection to Kurokawa’s avant-garde architecture. 

all images courtesy of oscar diaz

iconic nakagin capsule tower turns into a wooden toy

Completed in 1972, the Nakagin Capsule Tower was a pioneering example of modular architecture, embodying the Japanese Buddhist concept of renewal. Kurokawa envisioned the building as a temporary, adaptable structure, capable of evolving like a living organism. Although the tower was disassembled in 2022, Oscar Diaz aims to revive its innovative spirit through this wooden block set, which invites players to explore the principles of modular design.  The set by the industrial designer comes with a cotton bag for easy storage, making it a playful and practical tribute to one of Tokyo’s most notable architectural works.

each block can be positioned in multiple orientations to balance the tower as it is being built

the two red blocks reference the tower’s original structural elements

each wooden block represents one of the Nakagin tower capsules, with their characteristic round window

the resulting object serves as a memento of this Japanese avant-garde architectural masterpiece

there is no right or wrong way to stack each block

the Japanese Capsule Tower set is composed of twenty stackable wooden blocks and a hexagonal wooden base

the blocks can be configured in a wide range of combinations

although the tower was disassembled in 2022, Oscar Diaz aims to revive its innovative spirit

project info:

name: Japanese Capsule Tower
designer: Oscar Diaz | @oscardiazstudio

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom