Tokyo's next metabolism

This research explores the future Metabolism Architecture model for Tokyo through reviewing its evolution over the last half-century. Metabolism Architecture was a post-war Japanese architectural movement that fused ideas about architectural megastructures with those of organic biological growth. It was once appeared in the World Design Conference 1960 in Tokyo, promoting a new urbanism that comprised of replaceable components. By replacing decayed components, city could therefore be metabolized and renewed to adapt to any changing environment as a response to the blighted nation after World War II. Yet, the revolutionary idea was not greatly adopted in practice and Tokyo was developed into a totally different cityscape. Instead of megastructures, detached houses formed the city. Contemporary Japanese architect, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto of Atelier Bow-Wow concluded that it was the urban spaces of the city rather than the solid buildings being metabolized throughout generations. Tsukamoto captured the idea of Metabolism in the contemporary society and referred this phenomenon as ‘Void Metabolism’ as opposed to ‘Core Metabolism’ suggested in 1960s. The deviation of the metabolic subject from solid components to void spaces reflected Metabolism Architecture was evolving since 1960s. To continue the idea of Metabolism Architecture, the research also questioned whether ‘Void Metabolism Architecture’ was still suitable for Tokyo nowadays or even in the future. By reviewing the history and development, the research attempted to project the future of Tokyo based on the direction in which the society was approaching, the next Metabolism Architecture was then moulded against the backdrop. The research outcomes showed that it is the programme schedule to be metoblized in the next generation of Metabolism Architecture in Tokyo. With the advancement of flexible facilities in the future, spaces of different usages will be merged and evoluted according to their corresponding time phases within a limited size of room in Tokyo