|
 U.K.-based Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) was chosen in an
international contest to build the centerpiece stadium, but the
much-criticized futuristic design was dropped last year in just one
of a series of embarrassments for Tokyo Olympics planners.
A design by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma with a price tag of 149
billion yen ($1.27 billion), as opposed to an estimated $2.1 billion
for Hadid's plans, was chosen last month instead.
"We can confirm that we received and rejected a written request ...
to modify our existing contract to allow the transfer of the
copyright of the detailed design for the Japan National Stadium,
owned by ZHA, in exchange for an overdue final payment," the company
said in a statement.
It said it had been trying to finalize an outstanding payment for
"months of work" with the Japan Sport Council (JSC), the group in
charge of the stadium, since October.
The company added that it had also rejected a new contract clause
calling on their design team to no longer provide information or
comment on the project.
An official at the JSC said they were not immediately able to
comment.
The design submitted by Hadid, who designed the aquatics center for
the 2012 London Olympics, was slammed by critics for failing to
harmonize with its surroundings and derided as reminiscent of a
bicycle helmet or a drooping raw oyster.
Kuma's winning design, which some critics have likened to a stack of
pancakes, will be 20 meters (22 yards) lower than the original plan
and incorporate wood into the roofing in an effort to blend with its
leafy downtown surroundings.
[to top of second column] |
Japan's march to the 2020 Summer Olympics, its second hosting of the
sports extravaganza, has been beset by woes including the scrapping
of its original logo on accusations of plagiarism only months after
the stadium design was dropped.
Construction is scheduled for completion in November 2019, two
months ahead of an International Olympic Committee deadline.
The new National Stadium was also supposed to host the opening
ceremony and match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup but the delay in
construction meant the venue switched to Yokohama Stadium, which
hosted the 2002 soccer World Cup final.
(Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
