Architecture competition "Pape Bird Observation Tower" 2nd prize winner - Jeffrey Clancy

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winner of the 2nd prize of our “Pape Bird Observation Tower” competition - Jeffrey Clancy from USA!

Jeffrey Clancy from USA

Since graduating with a Master’s in Architecture from Arizona State University in 2012, I have worked at WEDDLE GILMORE black rock studio in (also in Arizona) where I have gained experience in a variety of scales and typologies - from small-scale desert trailhead buildings to large-scale botanical gardens and community museums. By and large, my interest lies in the public realm: architecture that is accessible to everyone and makes a positive impact on people’s lives. Studying, living, and working in a unique desert climate has instilled in me a great appreciation for context and the influence it asserts on a project. I believe in a design methodology that grows from the site - not only the physical context, but the social and political context as well.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where company/ individuals have been involved?

I very much enjoy working on small-scale interventions such as this one. Not only does it allow one to focus on details and materiality, but it also affords the opportunity to make the landscape a more important part of the project. I’m always interested in design solutions that fuse architecture with its surroundings.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Architecture informs so much of our lives and yet is extremely undervalued in the United States for the most part. For that reason, I am interested in the architect’s role in shaping public space. I want to see people’s lives enriched by the spaces they inhabit (whether they know it’s happening or not).

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

I enjoy the creative freedom that these competitions allow. While daily practice is incredibly rewarding, competitions such as this offer a chance to exercise my mind and explore design problems that I might not otherwise have the opportunity to delve into. They provide me the opportunity to research and explore a place and context that I may not otherwise have explored. I enjoy that. And I enjoy seeing other solutions to the same problem.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture vision competitions?

There exists a broad range of design competitions. Find one that piques your curiosity and makes you want to learn more. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. We are all better off for it.