Building Trust

On Halloween night, guests gathered at the Fisher Center to hear architect Germane Barnes meditate on Blackness, storytelling, and community building in his growing body of work. Throughout his lecture, Barnes provided candid anecdotes about architecture and space, some of which have been omitted — this was proposed as a “safe space” free from media, but is recollected here with consent.

The projects Barnes presented recalled the time and effort it takes to foster trust. For years, he was the designer-in-residence at the Opa-locka Community Development Corporation in Miami-Dade County. There, Barnes worked with local residents to put together community events and projects, such as a park he designed on an abandoned lot. “Community-oriented work is a slow burn. It takes time, but it’s worth it,” Barnes said. “Everyone understands space, even if they don’t have a degree in architecture.”