The iconic Nakagin Capsule Tower, a radical symbol of Japan’s Metabolism movement, lives on at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. A poignant new exhibition, The Many Lives of the Nakagin Capsule Tower, opened July 10, 2025, transforming MoMA’s street-level galleries into a time capsule of architectural innovation and urban adaptation. This focused showcase centers on the extraordinary 50-year history of Kisho Kurokawa’s groundbreaking structure, which stood in Tokyo’s bustling Ginza district from 1972 until its careful dismantling in 2022.
At the heart of the exhibition is capsule A1305, one of only 14 meticulously restored capsules salvaged from the original 140-unit complex. MoMA acquired this specific capsule in 2023, rescuing a vital piece of architectural history. Once perched on the building’s highest floor, capsule A1305 has been painstakingly reconstructed using the maximum number of original prefabricated fittings salvaged from other rescued units.
Visitors can peer into this compact marvel, observing its built-in Sony color TV and the full array of bespoke audio electronics offered as luxurious add-ons, experiencing the essence of the micro-dwelling concept firsthand. During special activation events, MoMA members will even have the rare opportunity to step inside this preserved capsule.
The exhibition extends far beyond capsule A1305 itself, presenting nearly 45 contextual pieces that trace the tower’s unexpected uses over five decades. This carefully curated selection reveals how Kisho Kurokawa‘s radical vision adapted to real-world urban living, evolving beyond its original intent through creative tenant interventions and shifting cultural contexts.
The rich archival display includes the project’s sole surviving architectural model (1970–72), original Kisho Kurokawa drawings, and vintage marketing ephemera. Rare photographs, archival films, and audio recordings are complemented by intimate interviews with former Tokyo tenants, while an interactive virtual tour digitally reconstructs the entire Metabolist landmark for immersive exploration.
Marketeted as minimalist crash-pads for commuting businessmen, the Nakagin Capsule Tower featured two concrete cores supporting 140 bolt-on capsules. Each self-contained unit embodied prefabricated efficiency – compact living cells measuring just 2.5m x 4m with standardized porthole windows and cutting-edge 1970s amenities.
These prefabricated units manifested Kurokawa’s vision for regenerative Metabolism architecture, designed for replacement every 25 years. Despite its visionary status, the Nakagin Capsule Towerfaced structural challenges and changing regulations before its 2022 dismantling. This MoMA exhibition meticulously documents that complex journey, celebrating both its ingenuity and contested legacy through salvaged artifacts and multimedia narratives.
The Many Lives of the Nakagin Capsule Tower is organized by Evangelos Kotsioris, Assistant Curator, and Paula Vilaplana de Miguel, Curatorial Associate, Department of Architecture and Design. The exhibition runs through July 12, 2026. Support is provided by the Annual Exhibition Fund, with major funding from The Sundheim Family Foundation.