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, Goldsmiths University of London
2019 – 2022 BSc Architecture, ETH Zürich

Work
2024 – Present, Scientific Assistant, Chair of Architecture Heritage and Sustainability, Prof. Mariam Issoufou, ETH Zürich
2024 Placement, Forensic Architecture, Research Agency, London
2023 – Co-founder, 20 km/h, Architects’ Collective
2022 – 2023 Internship, Building Permits at Department for Construction, Transport & Environment of Canton Aargau
2022 – 2023 Tutor, Prestudy Event, ETH Zürich
2022 Teaching Assistant, Chair of History of Art and Architecture, Prof. Dr. Philip Ursprung, ETH Zürich
2021 – 2022 Student Assistant, Chair of Digital Building Technologies, Prof. Dr. Benjamin Dillenburger, ETH Zürich
2021 – 2023 Booking, Production and Technical Coordination, fête de la musique

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

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

Conferences and Talks
03.04.2025 “How to Represent the Unrepresentable? Aesthetic and Operative Methodologies for Mapping the Violence of Material Extractivism“ Seminar at Unmasking Space, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich, CH.
26.02.2025 “Operational Images, Operative Models” Input at Chair for Architecture Heritage and Sustainability of Prof. Mariam Issoufou, Department of Architecture, ETH Zürich, CH.
20.02.2025 “Neutrality and Prosperity” Panel Discussion at Aargauer Kunsthaus, CH.
28.09.2024 ‘The Requested Document Does Not Exist‘: Colonial Operations in Archives, Symposium, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths University of London, UK.

Writings, Contributions to Anthologies and other Media
2025 Modell Neutralität (Neutrality Model), Scheidegger & Spiess, Zürich (interview)
2024 Navigating the politics of knowing, Dead Ends, CRA Press
2022 Dystopie im Provisorium, Utopie im Erinnern, Trans Magazine gta

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 // Panel Discussion: Neutrality Model at Aargauer Kunsthaus 20.02.2025 // Input at Unmasking Space, ETH Zürich 03.04.2025