Lost armatures and found forms - conversation and the contingent in the making of work by Clancy Moore Architects

Due to the complexity of contemporary construction technologies, and increased regulatory oversight, professional architects are increasingly involved in the making of fabric, and in working closely with existing structures. In these contexts the weight of the architectural intervention is slight in comparison to the external forces which bear on it. Contingency is the primary context. Modes of practice which allow an architect to act nimbly while still preserving their position must be developed in response. <br><br>This paper explores one such mode of practice as found in the studio of Clancy Moore Architects. In particular this research explores how the pursuit of a singular perfected idea can be counterproductive in these contexts. In response a more nimble attitude to what constitutes the ‘project’ is deployed, one based on a fragmentary approach. The value of conversation is highlighted as a literal and metaphorical technique for engaging with others, with sites, and the broader culture of architecture. The role of this conversation in allowing multiple fragmentary ideas be held in equilibrium is highlighted.