Kengo Kuma: New Tokyo Olympic Stadium (One Minute Architecture)
1.3K views · 2020-02-12
Space & Architecture
The Olympic Stadium project has been rather controversial as there was an international competition which was initially won by Zaha Hadid. Due to budget constraints, the Japanese government had requested some changes to the design. Even after the changes, the re-design by Hadid was still estimated at ¥300billion (three times the cost of the London Olympic Stadium).
In 2012 while the re-design discussions were taking place a group of Japanese architects led by Fumihiko Maki and also Edward Suzuki were very vocal against Hadid’s re-design. They organised a petition, demanding a re-design which would incorporate reducing the size, height and cost of the building. Edward Suzuki felt that the old stadium could be re-used, rather than building a new stadium. You can watch some of Fumihiko Maki's arguments here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLCG8WNIjyk
Arguably due to the protest, the Japanese prime minister Abe stepped in a cancelled the design. Another limited competition was held which was won by Kengo Kuma with Taisei as the contractor, at a cost of 157 billion. Construction was completed in 36 months. The Japanese architect and Pritzker prize winner Toyo Ito was the only contender as Hadid could not find a contractor. Ito had formed a coalition with almost all the other large construction firms in Japan.
Kuma’s conceptual basis for the design is what he referred to as: “a Living Tree“. As you can see many planters have been integrated in the facade and there is also quite a bit of wood used. It is a bit early to tell but some planters with trees have been installed and with a bit of imagination the stadium can be seen as a large green box. Another competitor in the first competition had proposed a large green hill, which I personally thought could look very good.
According to Kuma, the wood lattice structure is a reference to traditional Japanese architecture and will, in addition, add to the building’s structural integrity. Cross ventilation and fans should help cool the visitors and athletes from the hot and humid summers of Tokyo. There has been quite a bit of discussion about the problem of the heat of the Tokyo summer which can be brutal. The marathon, for this reason, will take place in in Hokkaido, the north of Japan.
The number 47 comes back in the design many times and one might wonder if there is something symbolic about the nmber. The height of the building is 47.4 meters, in addition, 47,000 trees are being planted around the venue, and wood used in the construction was sourced from the 47 prefectures of Japan.
The design is quite simple, and definitely not iconic, but I personally like it very much. Especially once the vegetation is blooming and the stadium will look like a large planter. We definitely need more living trees in Tokyo!
Thanks for watching, please like and subscribe.
Follow me in Twitter @martintokyo
my company: www.vanderarchitects.com
#KengoKuma #TokyoOlympics #OneMinuteArchitecture
In 2012 while the re-design discussions were taking place a group of Japanese architects led by Fumihiko Maki and also Edward Suzuki were very vocal against Hadid’s re-design. They organised a petition, demanding a re-design which would incorporate reducing the size, height and cost of the building. Edward Suzuki felt that the old stadium could be re-used, rather than building a new stadium. You can watch some of Fumihiko Maki's arguments here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLCG8WNIjyk
Arguably due to the protest, the Japanese prime minister Abe stepped in a cancelled the design. Another limited competition was held which was won by Kengo Kuma with Taisei as the contractor, at a cost of 157 billion. Construction was completed in 36 months. The Japanese architect and Pritzker prize winner Toyo Ito was the only contender as Hadid could not find a contractor. Ito had formed a coalition with almost all the other large construction firms in Japan.
Kuma’s conceptual basis for the design is what he referred to as: “a Living Tree“. As you can see many planters have been integrated in the facade and there is also quite a bit of wood used. It is a bit early to tell but some planters with trees have been installed and with a bit of imagination the stadium can be seen as a large green box. Another competitor in the first competition had proposed a large green hill, which I personally thought could look very good.
According to Kuma, the wood lattice structure is a reference to traditional Japanese architecture and will, in addition, add to the building’s structural integrity. Cross ventilation and fans should help cool the visitors and athletes from the hot and humid summers of Tokyo. There has been quite a bit of discussion about the problem of the heat of the Tokyo summer which can be brutal. The marathon, for this reason, will take place in in Hokkaido, the north of Japan.
The number 47 comes back in the design many times and one might wonder if there is something symbolic about the nmber. The height of the building is 47.4 meters, in addition, 47,000 trees are being planted around the venue, and wood used in the construction was sourced from the 47 prefectures of Japan.
The design is quite simple, and definitely not iconic, but I personally like it very much. Especially once the vegetation is blooming and the stadium will look like a large planter. We definitely need more living trees in Tokyo!
Thanks for watching, please like and subscribe.
Follow me in Twitter @martintokyo
my company: www.vanderarchitects.com
#KengoKuma #TokyoOlympics #OneMinuteArchitecture