The British architect Zaha Hadid has pulled off yet another major coup in the competitive world of architecture. After being shortlisted with another ten prestigious international practices, she was chosen to design the long awaited National Stadium of Tokyo, Japan.
Her futuristic design impressed the distinguished panel of judges and followed the criteria of the competition which related to the seating capacity of 80.000, that the seating be adjustable and the roof retractable. The design was also felt to establish a dialogue with its physical surroundings and urban landscape in particular the nearby Meiji Shrine. In addition, its integration into the existing local road system was a vital factor.
The stadium, which is likely to be the most expensive in the world at an estimated $1.62 billion, is scheduled to be completed in good time for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and is to play a role in the Japanese bid for the 2020 Olympic Games as well as being available to host an assortment of non-sports events. This is the second sports venue to be handled by the practice of Zaha Hadid after the London Olympics Aquatic Centre which ran over its estimated budget of 72 million pounds to 270 million pounds on completion.
