The Skyscraper Built Like Legos

Completed in 1972, this Tokyo tower was the world's first structure made of replaceable, prefabricated concrete pods. Each tiny apartment capsule was bolted to a central core and meant to be swapped out as they aged.

Architect Kisho Kurokawa designed the tower as a living organism that could constantly adapt and grow. The individual capsules functioned like plug-in units, allowing for easy updates or replacements over time. Unfortunately, the modular technology never truly caught on, and the pods remained fixed in place for decades. Despite its futuristic vision, the building was eventually demolished in 2022 after years of decay.