Mia Barnard

Mia Barnard (b. South Africa), hailing from South African and Dutch heritage, is profoundly committed to investigating the intricacies of the Global South, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. She is based in both South Africa and the Netherlands, having completed her Masters in Architecture at TU Delft (cum laude). As an architect and researcher, her work focuses on deciphering the complexities of the African narrative.

 

With a focus on language and representation, she challenges the Western-centric vocabulary used in conversations about Africa. She aims for a more inclusive and pluriversal approach, particularly in architecture and the built environment, recognising that without a proper name, the essence of African knowledge remains obscured. All of this derives from Africa's unprecedented urbanisation, as well as the challenges, possibilities, and injustices that surround it, which are exacerbated by climate change and - migration, the Anthropocene, the aftermath of colonialism, etc. Her ethnographic and mapping-based study aims to highlight African voices and perspectives while adhering to the Citizen Expert vs. Expert Citizen theory.

 

Mia's research projects have been showcased at events such as the 18th Venice Biennale (Africa: The Laboratory of the Future) and the 10th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam. Through her interdisciplinary approach and unwavering commitment, she continues to advance our understanding of African complexity and resilience in a global context.