Iraq’s Zaha Hadid commemorative stamp features controversial Tokyo Stadium

Iraq has issued stamps honoring two its most famous architects: Zaha Hadid, who died this past March, and Mohamed Makiya, who died last year. Puzzlingly, the background of Hadid’s stamp appears to feature her never-built design for the Tokyo Olympic Stadium in the bottom right corner, under the word "Dinars." The Tokyo stadium was among Zaha’s most controversial and criticized designs, which led to Japan bailing on the $2 billion project last year and starting over, in turn leading to accusations from the Hadid camp of collusion. The whole thing got fairly ugly and the building as Zaha designed it will never exist, which makes it a curious choice for the stamp to say the least.

• Iraq issues postage stamps honoring famed architects Zaha Hadid, Mohamed Makiya [albawaba]

• Tokyo Olympic Stadium coverage [Curbed]