On Feb. 11, the office furniture store Henricksen, based in Manhattan, hosted its 2nd annual Black History Month event celebrating resilience, creativity, and the ongoing journey toward equality as it honors the contributions and achievements of Black individuals in architecture and design.
In an interview with Caribbean Life, Simone Espinet, the business development manager at Henricksen, shared details of her upbringing, her experience working at the company, and how this event has impacted her.
She was born in Trinidad and Tobago, grew up in London, England, and has lived in the United States since 1979.
In London, the most significant influences on her career path included old-world architecture and the city’s fantastic architectural landscape, as well as the Tower of London, Hampton Court, and its intricate bridges, which she closely observed.
In Trinidad and Tobago, her greatest influences included the unique Gingerbread Houses and the country’s Magnificent Seven mansions. These mansions reflect the country’s diverse and complex history in their architectural styles, from French Creole to Scottish Baronial, Indian Empire, and Moorish Mediterranean, all bearing a uniquely Caribbean stamp.
In addition, Espinet said, “Being around Carnival as a teenager and seeing how creative Trinidadians are set me on the path that landed me in America to go to art school.”
She started working with the company in 2013 and said she loved every aspect of the business.
Discussing her experience so far, she stated, “Even though I am a trained Interior designer, being on the dealer side still gives me the ability to work very closely with architects/ designers to create beautiful spaces. I do a lot of nonprofit work for underprivileged communities. Giving back is very important to me.”
Espinet then shared that she and other committee members have learned so much from this event since hosting it for the first time last year.
“Doing the research and learning more has been eye-opening for us all. This is our second Black History Month event, and we are proud of the feedback we got from the community. I had one architect say to me, ‘I wish I had this kind of exposure when I was growing up,'” she added.
She hopes the event motivates those working in the architecture and design industry.
“If someone joins the design community, it is because they loved art and design at some given point in their life. I was very lucky as I was exposed to ‘the arts’ at a very young age. I see the same for my nieces, nephews, and with young people around me,” she continued..
Espinet believes that exposure to the industry is critical for young people who may want to pursue a career in architecture and design. Last year, Henricksen hosted the Hip Hop Camp with Michael Ford, which blended Hip-Hop with architecture, which was another eye-opener for her.
“To see young people (as young as 12) get up there and present the business plan ideas and their design was very inspirational to me. There is nothing better than a crayon, colored pencil, or paint. What the kids do on computers these days is amazing. I love to see the creativity and let it continue to grow. Inspiring others is what I thrive to do,” Espinet stated.
The free event was held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Shaw Contract, a flooring store Located at 853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003.
