ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how architectural competitions shape subsequent phases of the building process. The two case studies presented have revealed that the competition does not necessarily produce stable results. The chapter describes about an interview in which Werner Sobek discusses the value a structural engineer's early intervention can add to a project as well as the potential of being part of a competition team. The WERNER SOBEK GROUP has realized a large number of projects via active participation in architectural competitions. Between 1974 and 1980, Werner Sobek studied structural engineering and architecture at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. Subsequently, he worked as a post-graduate fellow on the research project 'Wide-Span Lightweight Structures', culminating with a PhD in structural engineering in 1987. Sobek founded his company in 1992. Today, the WERNER SOBEK GROUP has around 280 employees with offices in Stuttgart, Dubai, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Moscow and New York.
