olympics

Architect Hadid plans new, less costly bid for Tokyo Olympic stadium

26 Comments
By ELAINE KURTENBACH

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The government and Tokyo Olympic organizers had favored the original design as a potential new landmark for the city, but a huge and growing public debt led many to question the costs of such massive public works projects.

Geez if they are worried about the debt they should never have bid for the Olympics in the first place.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

150 billion yen is still too expensive.

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Shortages of construction workers and rising costs for materials are also potential problems for contractors who will have to rush to meet the International Olympic Committee’s request that the new stadium be ready by early 2020.

These sounds like big boy problems.....

Hope the various organizations can step up and pull their fingers out for a change......

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They had a perfectly functioning stadium before they went a head and bulldozed it down for something that they most likely won't even get to finish in time for the 2020 Olympics.

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Good on her. As a marketing tactic, however, I would avoid suing the Tokyo Organizing Committee for the previous breach of contract until after winning the contract for the new design.

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She is a typical starchitect who designs pretty awful stuff that is not even fit for purpose and costs huge amounts to build. what's wrong with a local doing it?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

what's wrong with a local doing it?

A 'local' didn't win the international competition for the original design, despite there being a number of local participants. By definition, the best bid won at that time.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Protip: If you don't want a reputation as a prima donna who designs pie-in-the-sky buildings that are too expensive to build, don't design pie-in-the-sky buildings that are too expensive to build. Starchitects and architechnocrats: not a good combo.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

If the Tokyo Olympic people even consider her proposal in any form or new partnership, they should be replaced by more competent people. Not only was her original design too costly ... it was beyond being ugly. Her original spaceship design doesn't fit in with the surroundings at Jingu Park, and I doubt if any new design from her firm will look good there.

Why doesn't the Olympic committee study proposals from more knowledgable local firms and try to select one of them. At least pick something that blends in with Jingu Park and its surroundings. After all, this new structure will not only have to host the 2020 Olympics, but other events in the decades following the closing of the games.

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a huge and growing public debt led many to question the costs of such massive public works projects.

If the growing public debt were really behind this, why isn't an axe being taken to the 40,000 billion yen of annual deficit spending?

The 250 billion yen charge - a once off - for the stadium was trivial in the bigger scheme of things.

How is it that priorities have gotten so out of whack?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

most of these "competitions" to choose architects for prestige buildings end badly. By definition the jusy go for the design that is most "original" and glamorous.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Little doubt the inspired Zaha Hadid designed London 2012 Olympic Aquatic Centre was a breath taking work of architectural beauty..However the original design promised a overall cost of £75million, the final bill was close to £310 million....

Hadid: In our bid to the International Olympic Committee we pledged that the Centre would cost £75million and that is precisely what it will do, with appropriate allowance for inflation. Of course I cannot give anyone a complete assurance that costs for the 2012 Games will not rise. But what I will do is be absolutely ruthless in ensuring that any potential overspend, no matter how small, is caught early and driven back down wherever possible.'' Zaha forced back to drawing board as Olympic pool costs spiral......1 December, 2005, By RW

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/zaha-forced-back-to-drawing-board-as-olympic-pool-costs-spiral/583188.article

I have found this very interesting public policy document detailing the average cost overruns for Olympic Games being more than 200% since 1976...

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/files/2013/01/Olympics.pdf

Keep it simple is still a lesson to learned from past games

1 ( +2 / -1 )

150 billion yen is still too expensive.

Really? Then what is reasonable? Considering the costs here for construction and labor, 1.2 Billion dollars (US) really is not that out of line for a stadium that is being proposed.

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I'd suggest going with the Austin Powers Mini-Me option at this point: "He is exactly like you in every way...except one-eighth your size."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If they don't stop planning and start building soon, they'll be forced to take any bid just to make sure the stadium is done in time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Time to get away from non-native architects that design "spacey" and none Japanese motif, extremely expensive building for a government that smells of hidden "costs" and "expenses" that possibly feed more than just the designers and builders. Anytime a foreign company is selected by any government official, it automatically "smells" of "hidden" routes to "hidden" international accounts outside of Japan.

There are enough qualified architects and designers in Japan. Just as there are many sport coaches in Japan without the need to hire from abroad.

When will Japan start believing in its own citizens abilities outside of education levels and certifications?

For Japan "foreign" does not mean "better"... it only means more expensive and much more complicated.

It wastes the most important thing in life... "time" and "human resources."

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Surely there is an athletics field up in Sendai that could do the job. Tohoku University would be perfect.

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what's wrong with a local doing it? nothing at all but since the Olympics is an international event it would only seem fair that international architects have the right to see if there designs can win, since the vast majority of world class architects are outside of Japan then it seem appropriate to get the best talent involved

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Somebody just wants the government to spend money and borrow it from the Central Bank, just like in the US. They were so hasty in their decision to demolish the old stadium.

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Last time, before Jisshi Design was revealed, Taisei and Takenaka were specified as contracted construction companies. So, this time, Hadid is looking for construction companies that can work within estimated cost. Hadid probably is the best for this project. It is not looking for Taisei or Takenaka. Just companies that can work with its jisshi design, Kind of hard to create Kihon Design and Jisshi Design for other architecture groups that has no experience of designing this scale stadium. Skipping Govt officials this rime

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@wtfjapan

since the vast majority of world class architects are outside of Japan then it seem appropriate to get the best talent involved

Here7s a difference of opinion. I think Japan has more than its share of world class architects. <http://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/year

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

A big open field with 30,000 lawn chairs arranged in a circle and you are done.

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@KevinMcgueSEP. 08, 2015 - 07:30AM JST A big open field with 30,000 lawn chairs arranged in a circle and you are done.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

And you will volunteer to clean up pop corns and water bottles, I'd bet.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think Japan has more than its share of world class architects. they certainly can claim they have some of the best, but certainly not the majority, the Olympics is an international event attracting the best athletes, the Olympic stadium design should also attract the best talent around the world. It is a competition of internationals not just Japan afterall. If Japanese architects submit the best bid theyll win or somebody else will. Just giving a bid to somebody because there Japanese defeats the whole purpose of the Olympic competitive spirit. Many national Olympic stadiums have been designed by architects not native to that country. why should Japan be any different.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

And you will volunteer to clean up pop corns and water bottles, I'd bet.

Actually there would be plenty of "omotenashi" Japanese staff that would handle that.

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@Yubaru: need about only 1000? But maybe 100 as there will be only a couple lines of fans as back seats will be empty. Or no one will buy tickets when there is no protection wall between game field and viewers. The wall that has ad pained wall topped by wired screens,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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