Gluon is Using 3D Laser Scanning Services to
Save the Nakagin Capsule Tower
Digital Archive Project will Preserve Demolished Tower
Designed by Kisho Kurokawa, the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo is currently being demolished. Kurokawa spearheaded Japan’s Metabolist Movement together with Kiyonori Kikutake and Fumihiko Maki.
The trio ensured each building living pod measures 2.5 meters by 4 meters. They precisely set the buildings to be renovated every 25 years.
The over 50-year-old building in Ginza neighborhood, Tokyo, is one of the most prominent projects of Metabolist architecture. This kind of architecture began in the 1960s.
It is key to pass on valuable architecture to the coming generations. Unfortunately, renovating the building every 25 years was slightly challenging. Naturally, the building lost its natural appeal and became dilapidated.
Enter 3D Laser Scanning Services
In 2021, the demolition of the building was announced to take place in 2022. To retain the history of the tower, a Japanese digital consultancy company, Gluon, is offering 3D laser scanning services.
The company started the project called 3D Digital Archive Project which utilizes 3D scanning services to take pictures. This popular project attracted attention from all over Japan.
The project aims to recreate an augmented reality model of the tower using 3D laser scanning services to take 20,000 photographs. By combining data retrieved from the photographs to create the virtual model of the building, the company will be able to preserve the cultural value of the tower.
Gluon took the initiative and used several drones to take images of the building and curate the model. Their 3D scanning services ensured the digital version of the building is as accurate as possible.
The model will have exact features of the exterior and interior aspects of the building. It will also have minor and major modifications made by the residents.
Acquiring three-dimensional shapes and structures of the building is quite complex using photographs and drawings.
However, using their high-end 3D laser scanning services, the team is adamant about retaining the exact nature of the building. You can expect the same attributes in the digital archive placed online.
In addition to the 3D scanning services, Gluon partners with the Nakagin Capsule Tower Building A606 Project. The latter aims to turn the capsule numbered A606 into a “mobile capsule.”
There are also other groups involved in the 3D Digital Archive project, which are also key in helping preserve the original elements of the building.
Once the project is complete, Gluon intends to upload the data to the public. You can access the 3D point cloud data on a website for free. The company will also make the Augmented Reality model available for smartphones.