A lesson in trust: what can we build together when architecture is no longer just for architects

Trust in the built environment grows not only from good design but also from people’s ability to understand and influence how spaces are made. This paper explores how architectural education for non-architects can become a foundation for building trust and collaboration between professionals and communities. It examines three types of initiatives: school programs, public festivals, and community workshops, showing how each makes design processes visible and accessible. These are interpreted through a four-step framework: demystification, visibility, involvement, and reflexivity. This paper argues that trust emerges when architectural language is opened and communities are invited to participate, not just be consulted. To strengthen empirical grounding, the study discusses outcomes such as children’s increased spatial awareness, public dialogue around professional choices, and tangible results in workshops. The analysis is complemented with insights from international contexts. By offering both a theoretical framework and practical recommendations, this paper positions architectural education as civic literacy: a pathway toward becoming trustworthy in the eyes of communities.