When Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) was announced as the winner of an international competition to design the Japanese National Stadium in Tokyo, the firm’s designs were met with mixed reactions. Some praised the strong, characteristically sculptural aesthetic proposed by ZHA whilst others argued that it lacked respect for the immediate context.

This week the design studio has released new renderings which show a transformed design. Its scale is a direct correlation to the project brief’s seating capacity of 80,000 to meet the client’s requirements for flexibility and capacity, enabling the greatest future use by Japan’s sporting, cultural, civic and community organizations. No construction works or redevelopment will be required for use after 2020.