Japanese architecture of metabolism is a rare form of architecture born in Japan after the Second World War. During the 1960s, Japanese metabolism was the most influential, ranging from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. The idea of metabolism was conceived by architects under the influence of Kenzo Tange and other notable architects such as Fumihiko Maki, Kiyonori Kikutake and Kisho Kurokawa. The young architects were inspired by a wide range of sources, including biological processes and Marxist theories. The term “metabolism” is derived from a concept in biology and has seen the construction of large-scale architectural structures and designs for cities sharing the same capacities as living organisms such as growth, reproduction and transformation. Metabolism was born in Japan at a time when the country was experiencing the start of economic growth after the ravages of World War II. Meanwhile, people have supported the idea that creating ideal cities would be a great way to create better communities.
History
Following the dismantling by 1959 of the International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM), founded by Le Corbusier in 1928 with other Europeans, the architecture of metabolism filled the void left. At the last CIAM meeting, Kenzo Tange was invited to Otterlo, in the Netherlands, for the association’s meeting. Tange presented two of the theoretical projects of architect Kiyonori Kikutake, exposing for the first time the emerging metabolist movement to an international audience. During the World Design Conference held in Tokyo in 1960, a group of young Japanese architects challenged old European ideas about static town planning.
Growth
In 1960, renowned architect Kenzo Tange presented his theoretical project to create a floating city in Tokyo Bay at the World Design Conference. In 1961, Kisho Kurokawa designed Helix City, a biochemical-DNA metabolic solution for urban planning. During the same period, the metabolic movement was a trend that gained ground while American architects were also widely exposed. A good example is the design of the city tower by Anne Tyng, an American architect and the vertical city in the history of 300 designed by the Australian-born architect Friedrich St. Florian.
Famous examples
Located in Shimbashi, Tokyo, Japan, the Nakagin capsule tower, designed by Kisho Kurokawa, is one of the best examples of metabolism. The structure includes 140 units of prefabricated cell capsules which are bolted individually to a single concrete well. However, the structure looks more like stacks of front-loading washing machines. Currently, the structure still exists although only about 30 units remain in service while the others have been abandoned for a long time. Other examples include the Yamanashi press center and broadcaster, Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Terrace and Hillside Terrace. There are many futuristic conceptions of metabolism that have never been constructed.
Evolution and disappearance
According to some rumors, part of the work at the Kenzo Tange Lab was largely influenced by Louis Khan, an American architecture. It is believed that Khan, along with his associates, designed modular towers stacked between 1957 and 1961 at the University of Pennsylvania for the Richards Medical Research Lab. Since then, the modern geometric idea of using space has become a model. Metabolism was itself interconnected and organic, and, unfortunately, the International Exposition held in Osaka, Japan, as part of 1970 was the last attempt by the architects of the metabolic movement resulting from the disappearance of the metabolic movement. Post-1970, individual architects of the metabolist movement opted for an independent career and became more independent.
