Nakagin Capsule Tower in the back end of Tokyo's Ginza district has fallen into a dire state of disrepair, and the owners have mounted a funding drive via crowdfunding to save the iconic structure from the wrecking ball.

Kurokawa (1934-2007) designed the Nakagin Capsule Tower as a mixed-use office and residential building. It was constructed in 1972.

The first and second floors house offices. Floors higher than the third are comprised of 140 capsule condominium units, each measuring only 10 square meters, stacked and rotated at varying angles.

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The funding drive，which was mounted in June after calls grew for the preservation of the dilapidated building as a cultural asset, successfully amassed the targeted 1.5 million yen ($12,000) by Aug. 14. The effort is aimed at publishing a book themed on the Nakagin Capsule Tower with the funds collected through crowdfunding. The owners and residents hope that the book will help promote broader understanding for the project to preserve the building.

- With its 140 self-contained units, Kisho Kurokawa’s 1972 Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo is a series of prefabricated cubes with just enough space for a bachelor salaryman. Seen as revolutionary 40 years ago, it’s now considered by its remaining residents — who lobbied for its demolition in 2007 — an outdated relic in an increasing state of decay.