curriculum vitae

architect, researcher, spatial investigator
rami.msallam1@gmail.com

Rami Msallam (b. 1999, Aleppo, he/him) is an architect, researcher, and visual/spatial investigator. He trained as an architect at ETH Zürich and pursued his master’s degree at the Centre for Research Architecture at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he was awarded the Forensic Architecture Scholarship and graduated with distinction. Currently, Rami is a member of the research team led by Prof. Mariam Issoufou at the Chair of Architecture Heritage and Sustainability, ETH Zürich. Throughout his studies, Rami engaged artistically and politically with NGOs and collectives such as map-f, Schwarzenbach Komplex, and Institut Neue Schweiz. In 2023, he was awarded the Sparx Space studio grant from Migros-Kulturprozent, through which he co-produced turicum, an interactive audiovisual installation investigating the spatial entanglements between Zurich’s built environment and networks of gold extraction. That same year, he worked in the Building Permits Department of Canton Aargau and co-founded 20km/h, an architects' collective which engages with the city and its politics.

Education
2023 – 2024
MA Research Architecture, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths University of London
2019 – 2022
BSc Arch ETH, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich

Work
2024 – Present
Scientific Assistant, Chair of Architecture Heritage and Sustainability, Prof. Mariam Issoufou, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich
2024 (6 months)
Research Assistant, Forensic Architecture, Goldsmiths, University of London
2023 – Present
Co-Founder and Collective Member at 20 km/h, Zürich
2022 – 2023 (6 months)
Internship, Building Permits at Department for Construction, Transport & Environment of Canton Aargau, Switzerland
2022 – 2023
Tutor, Prestudy Event, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich
2022
Student Assistant, Chair of History of Art and Architecture, Prof. Dr. Philip Ursprung, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich
2021 – 2022
Student Assistant, Chair of Digital Building Technologies, Prof. Dr. Benjamin Dillenburger, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich
2021 – 2023
Booking, Programming and Technical Production, Fête de la Musique Festival

Exhibitions
11.04. – 11.05.2025
“Strike [at] the Border” (Solo Exhibition) Kunstraum Aarau, Switzerland.
26.09. – 03.10.2024
“Voids in Earth“ (Video Installation) part of Group Show Interruptions, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK.
30.06 – 01.07.2023
“Zwischen-Wäscherei“ (Group Show) 20km/h Collective, Zentralwäscherei Zürich, Switzerland.
08.07 – 29.07 2023
“turicum” (Multimedia Installation) with Lewis Beauchamp and Carolin Bodensteiner at RA(RAUM)UM by lady.and.sirprise, Dynamo Zürich, Switzerland.

Conferences, Seminars and Talks
11.04.2025
“Strike [at ] the Border!” Moderation and Conversation with Charles Heller (Director of Border Forensics), Lucia Bernini and Rohit Jain, Kunstraum Aarau, Switzerland.
03.04.2025
“How to Represent the Unrepresentable? Aesthetic and Operative Methodologies for Mapping the Violence of Material Extractivism“ Seminar for Elective Course Unmasking Space, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich, Switzerland.
26.02.2025
“Operational Images, Operative Models” Input for Design Studio of the Chair for Architecture Heritage and Sustainability of Prof. Mariam Issoufou, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich, Switzerland.
20.02.2025
“Neutrality and Prosperity” Panel Discussion with Denise Bertschi, Lea Haller and Mascha Madörin, Aargauer Kunsthaus, Switzerland.
28.09.2024
“‘The Requested Document Does Not Exist‘: Colonial Operations in Archives” Panel Discussion organized by Yan Wai Yin, Kevin Howard and Rami Msallam with Guests Omar Ferwati (Forensic Architecture) Agata Nguyen Chuong (Forensic Architecture) at Research Symposium, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths University of London, UK.

Writings and other media contributions
Ammann, K. and El Adisey, B. (eds) (2025) ‘Sich der Neutralisierung widersetzen? (Rohit Jain im Gespräch mit Rami Msallam)’, in Modell Neutralität. 1. Auflage: Scheidegger & Spiess.
Gardika, P., Gilman, C. and Howard, K. (eds) (2024) ‘Navigating The Politics of Knowing’, in Dead Ends. London: CRA Press.
Msallam, R. (2024) Extra-Territorialising Violence in the Gold Supply Chain: A Critical Material-Discursive-Legal Perspective. Goldsmiths, University of London.
Baumann, S. et al. (eds) (2022) ‘Dystopie im Provisorium, Utopie im Erinnern’, in Fire. Zürich: gta Verlag (Trans, 41).

Awards and Grants
2023 – 2024
Forensic Architecture Scholarship
2023
Project Grant, Sparx Space, Migros-Kulturprozent
2022
Project Grant, Kulturamt Thurgau
2021
Nomination, Solos and Sights, Internationale Bodenseekonferenz
2021
Prize, Stiftung Jugendförderung Thurgau
2019
Prize, Think Tank Thurgau

Performances (selection)
AUG 2023
Finsterbusch Collective, Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Zürich
FEB 2023
Varieté Show, Baby Angel, Zürich
NOV 2022
Book Vernissage, Zentralwäscherei Zürich
OCT 2022
TOUR DE NOUVELLE SUISSE, Kaserne Basel
MAR 2022
ZATO.Space, ETH Zürich
SEP 2021
Not the same procedure, M2act, Gessnerallee, Zürich
AUG 2021
Not the same procedure, Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Zürich

++++++++++++++ “Strike [at] the Border” Exhibition at Kunstraum Aarau 11.04. – 11.05. 2025 In Conversation with Charles Heller (Border Forensics), Lucia Bernini and Rohit Jain ++++++++++++++ Panel Discussion: Neutrality Model at Aargauer Kunsthaus 20.02.2025 ++++++++++++++ Seminar at elective course Unmasking Space, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich 03.04.2025