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NEWS
Zaha Hadid cries foul as Tokyo 2020 stadium design is chosen
POSTED 22 Dec 2015 . BY Matthew Campelli
Kengo Kuma's design includes a track and field below ground level Credit: Japan Sports Council via Associated Press
Japanese architects Kengo Kuma have been selected to design the 80,000 capacity stadium which will be the centrepiece of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The design was selected by the Japanese government after it was put forward by the Japanese Sports Council as one of two shortlisted proposals last week.

Kuma’s design will cost ¥149bn (£806m, US$1.2bn, €1.1bn) and is due to be completed by November 2019. It will be built by construction giant Taisei Corp.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said the proposal was a “wonderful plan that meets criteria such as basic principles, construction period and cost”, but the decision was slammed by British architect, Zaha Hadid, who had originally been on board to design the stadium before Abe pulled the plug.

“Sadly the Japanese authorities, with the support of some of those from our own profession in Japan, have colluded to close the doors on the project to the world,” the company said in a statement.

“This is shocking treatment of an international design and engineering team, as well as the respected Japanese design companies with whom we worked, was not about design or budget,” added the statement. “In fact much of our two years of detailed work and the cost savings we recommended have been validated by the remarkable similarities of our original detailed stadium layout and our seating bowl configured with those of the design announced today.”

Kuma’s design incorporates a combined steel and wood structure with a flat roof and greenery along its surrounding concourse. The 50m (164ft) structure was chosen by an expert panel over a proposal put together by a consortium which included Takenaka, Shimizu, Obayashi and Toyo Ito.

“The stadium incorporates the views of experts in the construction field and we are looking forward very much to using the new stadium as the centrepiece of the Tokyo 2020 Games,” said president of Tokyo 2020, Yoshiro Mori.
RELATED STORIES
  Zaha Hadid Architects question Japanese government's logic for Olympic stadium designs


The architects of the original Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium have accused the Japanese government of putting the legacy of the Games in jeopardy and overlooking several designers after it unveiled two new plans for the arena.
  Japan Sports Council unveils Olympic Stadium designs


Two stadium designs for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been revealed by the Japanese Sports Council.
  Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic cycling venues approved by IOC


The venue master plan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is slowly taking shape following the confirmation of four locations for the Games’ cycling events.
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NEWS
Zaha Hadid cries foul as Tokyo 2020 stadium design is chosen
POSTED 22 Dec 2015 . BY Matthew Campelli
Kengo Kuma's design includes a track and field below ground level Credit: Japan Sports Council via Associated Press
Japanese architects Kengo Kuma have been selected to design the 80,000 capacity stadium which will be the centrepiece of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The design was selected by the Japanese government after it was put forward by the Japanese Sports Council as one of two shortlisted proposals last week.

Kuma’s design will cost ¥149bn (£806m, US$1.2bn, €1.1bn) and is due to be completed by November 2019. It will be built by construction giant Taisei Corp.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said the proposal was a “wonderful plan that meets criteria such as basic principles, construction period and cost”, but the decision was slammed by British architect, Zaha Hadid, who had originally been on board to design the stadium before Abe pulled the plug.

“Sadly the Japanese authorities, with the support of some of those from our own profession in Japan, have colluded to close the doors on the project to the world,” the company said in a statement.

“This is shocking treatment of an international design and engineering team, as well as the respected Japanese design companies with whom we worked, was not about design or budget,” added the statement. “In fact much of our two years of detailed work and the cost savings we recommended have been validated by the remarkable similarities of our original detailed stadium layout and our seating bowl configured with those of the design announced today.”

Kuma’s design incorporates a combined steel and wood structure with a flat roof and greenery along its surrounding concourse. The 50m (164ft) structure was chosen by an expert panel over a proposal put together by a consortium which included Takenaka, Shimizu, Obayashi and Toyo Ito.

“The stadium incorporates the views of experts in the construction field and we are looking forward very much to using the new stadium as the centrepiece of the Tokyo 2020 Games,” said president of Tokyo 2020, Yoshiro Mori.
RELATED STORIES
Zaha Hadid Architects question Japanese government's logic for Olympic stadium designs


The architects of the original Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium have accused the Japanese government of putting the legacy of the Games in jeopardy and overlooking several designers after it unveiled two new plans for the arena.
Japan Sports Council unveils Olympic Stadium designs


Two stadium designs for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been revealed by the Japanese Sports Council.
Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic cycling venues approved by IOC


The venue master plan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is slowly taking shape following the confirmation of four locations for the Games’ cycling events.
MORE NEWS
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming.
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and private membership under one roof.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana Heritage Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
Universal Destinations and Experiences has launched a new regional theme park model with the opening of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.
San Antonio Zoo reports $283 million economic impact as expansion plans progress
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade- long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas attraction.
Great Barrier Reef attraction set for AU$180 million reinvention
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef education and conservation.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
Simworx Ltd

The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
Taylor Made Designs

Founded in 1993, Taylor Made Designs supply corporate clothing and brand-enhancing merchandise to [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

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