As reported by The Washington Post and other outlets, some of the 140 surviving capsules will be transformed into rentable apartment units, with others traveling to public collections abroad such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which has expressed interest along with many other international institutions. Digitally archived options are being floated as well. 

Last month, we explored reactions from the architectural community following the news of the tower’s final decision, which came as a blow to the hard-fought preservation effort put forth by groups like the Nakagin Capsule Tower Building Conservation and Regeneration Project. (The group currently owns 15 of the capsules.)

Last the Nakagin Capsule Tower pic.twitter.com/TiMy4joiwe
— ringo134 (@ringo134) May 31, 2022

The dismantling of its famed “living cells” began last week, causing quite a stir online as fans and observers reacted to the sight of one of Metabolism’s last vestiges being taken apart piece by piece following years of speculation and irreversible decay. 

本日、ついに
中銀カプセルタワービルが新陳代謝する瞬間を目撃することができました#中銀カプセルタワービル#nakagincapsuletower
カプセルが天空に浮かんで、そして地上へ！
メタボリズムに感動#建築#黒川紀章 pic.twitter.com/1yXwxsASvd
— 声 (@cosplaykoechan) May 24, 2022

Demolition work is expected to continue throughout the summer, with the cost of each capsule's removal being estimated at around 6.5 million Yen (equal to about $50,000 USD) owing to the presence of sprayed-on asbestos, which was never fully addressed during the building's five-decade lifespan.