Japan finally picked the final design for their main Olympic stadium which will be the focal point of the 2020 Summmer Olympics. The stadium will be hosting the opening and the closing ceremonies of the event.
The Sports Council of Japan took quite some time to pick the design for the stadium, and the design that they picked was less costly than the other one.
This new stadium is designed by the famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. His new design replaced the former Zaha Hadid design which was scapped due to it being too costly. Gizmondo stated that the entire project will cost the national government around $1.2 billion. With Hadid's design, it would have been around $2 billion.
Kuma's design for Japan's Olympic stadium was chosen by the council because of the "proposed unprecedented method for constructions" which means that the proposed design is linked with a method that allows the construction for a short period of time using new materials.
Takashi Moriyama, an architect and critic, said that when compared to Ito's design for the Olympic stadium, it was more of an Orthodox method which is common for everyone and with Kuma's design it has lesser risky value than this second design.
Another reason why Kuma's design won is the appealing modesty it conveys from the appearance of the whole stadium itself. It has a practical and realistic look with an accent of futuristic design, however, not overpowering compared to Hadid's.
The design itself has a link with Japanese tradition and it has valued the use of natural materials and the harmonization between the built and at the same time the entire landscape of the Olympic stadium. The whole space covers 65 feet lower than Hadid's design with seamless blend with the overall surroundings.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told CNN, "Today, the Japan Sports Council reported that Plan A was chosen for the new National Stadium design. The ministerial meeting has checked the selection was made in an appropriate manner."
He added, "This is an excellent plan that satisfies the principle philosophy, construction, deadline and cost of the Olympic plan." The entire Olympic stadium could accommodate 80,000 people.
Japan's national Olympic stadium will officially open in November 2019. The construction will start in early 2016.