In December, Japanese officials announced their selection of Kengo Kuma as the architect for Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Stadium. Their decision resolved a hotly contested debate over the building’s design and concluded a second competition for its designer after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scuttled the building’s initial winning design by Zaha Hadid. The controversy continued last month when Hadid refused to sign over her design’s copyright to the Japan Sport Council and sign a gag order.
Kuma’s scheme, which beat out Toyo Ito’s proposal, was lauded for its relatively modest budget and its sensitive architectural expression incorporating live trees and timber construction— one of the architect’s signature elements. The 80,000-seat structure is being developed with Taisei Corporation and Azusa Sekkei Company. Construction is expected to commence as early as December. Kuma spoke to RECORD's correspondent in Tokyo, Naomi Pollock, about the project.
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