New designs: One of them will be ‘the best stadium in the world’

02.11.2012 15:28 source: StadiumDB.com; author: michał

When Japan Sport Council announced plans to build a new national stadium , they made themselves clear: it has to change Japan and sports architecture in general. Here’s how 11 top contenders want to achieve that goal.

In February 2012 it was announced that Japan is planning to build a new national stadium. Capacity between 80,000 and 100,000 people is really impressive. So is the budget, then projected at $1.3 billion. And then come the requirements set by Japan Sport Council who clearly plan on having a top-class venue with retractable roof and retractable lower stands as well.

All this is to be built in 2018 as the stadium is already selected to host 2019 Rugby World Cup and is the stadium chosen to host 2020 Olympics if Tokyo gets selected (shortlisted with Istanbul and Madrid, but according to many Japanese bid is the most likely one).

In recent months we’ve heard that the successor of outdated National Olympic Stadium is to be the very best stadium in the world. To meet such a high expectation a superb jury has been appointed with Tadao Ando as Chair and Sir Norman Foster in attendance to select from incoming bids. And any architect hoping to apply first had to show one stadium he (or his team, actually) has designed and one of 5 top awards he has won (Pritzker, Gold Medals of AIA, RIBA and UIA and The Praemium Imperiale in Honor of Prince Takamatsu).

If anyone thinks these requirements make the list short, than the number of 46 bids submitted by September 25 has to be impressive! It’s clear that best architecture practices from around the world are interested in winning this prestigious project for themselves.

Of all these concepts, on October 16 a shortlist of 11 were selected for final vote. That will be made on November 7 with announcement expected within a week from that date and award ceremony following in late November.