Zaha Hadid Wins New National Stadium Japan Competition

Zaha Hadid just scored again. Only two weeks ago, we reported on the eleven finalist in the international design competition for the New National Stadium Japan in Tokyo, and now today it has been announced that the entry by Zaha Hadid Architects was selected as the overall competition winner. Jury chair Tadao Ando remarked at today's press conference: "The entry’s dynamic and futuristic design embodies the messages Japan would like to convey to the rest of the world."

The winning entry beat out tough competition from other well-known finalists, such as SANAA, Toyo Ito, UNStudio, Populous, and Cox Architecture.

Ichiro Kono, president of the Japan Sports Council which organized the design competition, said: "The stadium is scheduled for completion in 2018, and if Japan is selected to host the 2020 Olympic Games, it will be used as the primary venue for both, the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The stadium is already slated to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and will also be offered as a venue for the FIFA World Cup, the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, concerts by world-renowned entertainers, and a wide range of other cultural and artistic events."

The new stadium will be erected on the site of the old National Olympic Stadium, built for the 1964 games, which will be demolished by October 2015.

Following are a few more images of Zaha Hadid Architects's winning entry.