Wesam Asali
Wesam is an architect and a doctoral researcher at the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at the University of Cambridge. As an architect and builder, Wesam capitalises on the role that design and technology can play in learning from and engaging with vernacular construction to respond to environmental challenges. Through design, making, and case studies in Cuba, Spain, and Syria, he examines technology, manufacturing, and craft training in tile-vaulting to facilitate locally resourced construction during economic hardship, emergency, and post-war reconstruction. Wesam leads IWlab, his cofounded practice in Damascus, Syria, in research and projects about informal construction in Damascus. Wesam is director of Urbegony and lecturer at Master program in Emergency and Resilience at the Venice school of architecture (IUAV). His research has been recognised with awards such as the Spanish Tile Award (2016-17) and the Morgan Sindall Prize (2016).