The Japan Sport Council on Monday "unveiled two new stadium designs for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that blend in better with the greenery-rich Yoyogi area" and currently do not break the 155B yen ($1.3B) budget, according to Atsushi Kodera of the JAPAN TIMES. Of the technical proposals on the council's website, architect and critic Takashi Moriyama said, "Both designs use wood in their construction materials, and I think that's an interesting aspect. I think the idea of using wood in large structures may globally impact architecture." The two new designs, "which are apparently Japanese in origin, are simply called A and B." But the companies involved "remain a secret." Japanese media reports said that the designs were "submitted by a joint venture" involving Taisei Corp., and another venture comprising Takenaka Corp., Shimizu Corp. and Oayashi Corp. (JAPAN TIMES, 12/14). The AP reported Design "A" has a "relatively flat roof and fits in with surrounding greenery, with shrubbery along its outer concourses." The combined steel and wood structure "seems to echo traditional temple designs, and stands only" 50m tall, with a center sports ground sunk below the surface. Its construction cost "is listed at a total" of 153B yen ($1.27B). Both plans "call for construction to be done, apart from landscaping and surrounding work," by Nov. 30, 2019 (AP, 12/14). The AFP reported the sports council "has not revealed the names of the architects," but local media named them as the "renowned" Kengo Kuma and Toyo Ito. The "winner will be decided by the end of this year." Tokyo Olympics Minister Toshiaki Endo said that officials decided to release design plans to "increase transparency" (AFP, 12/14).
