Andrew Clancy, Director of Clancy Moore Architects, discusses with AT how working across Ireland, the UK, and Switzerland shapes his approach to European architecture, and highlights the unique strengths and collaborative opportunities each context offers.

https://vimeo.com/1127548543?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

You work in Switzerland, the UK and Ireland. What can these places learn from one other?
Yes, so my practice is based here [in Dublin], I teach at Kingston University in London, where I also edit books on London architecture, and I teach and research in Switzerland. I think the hybridity of those three places is essential to how I conceive European architecture. When I look at London, there’s a real savviness about how teams are constructed and collaboration can happen between architecture practices in a way that doesn’t exist here, for example. Where as here, I see a real acuity, particularly in the smaller firms, with a real nimbleness to design intelligence that doesn’t exist in quite the same way in the UK. 

Then in Switzerland there’s this amazing professionalism in terms of how the state procures architecture and researches architecture through its university system, which is extremely well funded. I think both the UK and Ireland could really benefit from this. 

I try and bring all of those things into my own work, to the benefit of our clients, but effectively, the hybridity means that we’re collaborating all the time with people from London, Switzerland, and here.