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Metabolic Revival

Project type

AR/XR/Ai

Designed

2022

Instructor

Wendy W Fok

School

USC School of Architecture

How can we leverage artificial intelligence to predict the potential development of 1980s Metabolism architecture had the avant-garde movement not been hindered by the oil crisis and trade wars?

The Metabolism movement, an avant-garde architectural movement that emerged in the late 1950s, unfortunately declined after the 1973 oil crisis and the 1980s trade wars. It represented Japan's unique approach to international architectural styles, blending modern techniques with traditional Japanese culture.

Despite a significant Japanese-American population of 110,000, Los Angeles lacks prominent examples of modern Japanese architecture. As a cultural melting pot, Los Angeles should embrace diverse architectural styles, even within specific cultural traditions. While the city boasts numerous examples of traditional Japanese courtyard and architectural influences, it is lacking in representations of modern Japanese styles. Therefore, I chose Los Angeles as the setting for my experiment.

Using Midjourney, I explored how Metabolism-inspired architecture could integrate into the Los Angeles landscape. I was particularly interested in how this Brutalist-like movement could interact with Deconstructivism, a style that originated in Los Angeles, and how incorporating curves into the concrete forms would affect the overall aesthetic. The Nakagin Capsule Tower, a renowned example of Metabolism, served as the foundation for many of my Midjourney illustrations due to its distinctive design.

For my augmented reality showcase, I chose to present the architecture in a science fiction style, reflecting Los Angeles's status as a hub for the genre. Specifically, I drew inspiration from the Mecha subgenre of anime, as Japanese science fiction often has a significant influence on the genre globally, with examples like Ghost in the Shell and Gundam.

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