Zaha Hadid Architects have unveiled a new refined design for the Tokyo Olympic Stadium after widespread protests and major budget cuts plagued the original plan for the 80,000 seat arena.

The modified design appears to show a significant change in the structure, with simplifications to the walkway that surrounds the stadium building.

The addition of a lightweight, tensile fabric between the stadium’s structure is expected to reduce the weight the roof, giving the stadium greater flexibility as both an outdoor and indoor venue.

A spokesman from the London-based firm believes the changes will help “make the stadium even more efficient, user-focused, adaptable and sustainable."

Opponents of the original design included Japanese architects Toyo Ito, Kengo Kuma and Sou Fujimoto, who criticised the stadium concept for being too big in relation to its surroundings.

Check out the changes in these side-by-side comparisons of the old (top) and new (bottom) stadium design.

Courtesy Dezeen and Gizmodo