Profile
Fabrizio Furiassi (b. Rome, 1983) is an Italian, naturalized American architect and educator based in New York and Basel. From 2010, he has collaborated with cutting-edge architecture firms and cultural institutions to disseminate critical design culture, including Obra Architects in New York and Sou Fujimoto Architects in Tokyo. Furiassi holds master’s degrees from La Sapienza University of Rome (2010) and Columbia University GSAPP (2019). He also studied at the Moscow Institute of Architecture, and completed the postgraduate research program at the Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design (2016). Furiassi is the founding director of Distributed Architecture, a New York-based design and research practice focusing on participative projects, and recipient of the NYSCA & The Architectural League of NY's Independent Projects Grant (2022/2023), and the Columbia GSAPP Incubator Prize (2021/2022 & 2022/2023). He teaches urban history/theory within the MA in Critical Urbanisms at the University of Basel, where is pursuing doctoral studies as fellow of the Swiss National Science Foundation. He is the founder and programme head of the Architectural Association Visiting School Basel (2023—ongoing), and was a unit tutor at the Visiting School Seoul (2022—2024). He has also taught architectural history/theory and design studio at Syracuse University in Florence and La Sapienza University of Rome; and delivered lectures at Yonsei University in Seoul and Politecnico di Milano, among other institutions. Currently, he is an Art&Science Fellow of the Swiss Institute in Rome (Palermo Calling 2024/2025) and an incoming Research Fellow at the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal (DRRP 2025). His recent work has been included in Intelligens exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale (2025), curated by Carlo Ratti. Over the years at The New School, Furiassi has taught architectural history/theory, design studio, and transdisciplinary courses for designers and planners.
Degrees Held
PhD Candidate, Architectural History, University of Basel.
MS AAD, Columbia University GSAPP.
MArch, La Sapienza University of Rome.
BSc, La Sapienza University of Rome.
Recent Publications
“Mafia Matters” in Log 53: Why Italy Now? (New York, NY: Anyone Corporation, fall 2021), pp. 117-122.
Performances and Appearances
2025, Exhibition, "Uni(wi)fied: Community-Designed, Community-Owned WiFi Structures in Harlem," at Venice Architecture Biennale, Arsenale, Intellingens exhibition curated by Carlo Ratti, section CANON.
2025, Short Film, "Fregene Come Prima, Piú Di Prima," Italian Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Guendalina Salimei.
2024, Speaker, Talk "Aula Bunker: Un Teatro Siciliano/Aula Bunker: A Sicilian Theater,' at Palazzo Branciforte, Palermo.
2024, Lecture, "Designing with Communities: Uni(wi)fied, An Alternative Internet Infrastructure for Harlem, NYC," at Spazio Unico, Milano Arch Week/Triennale di Milano.
2024, Lecture, "Mafia Concrete: A Material History of Power in Sicily, 1945-1992," at Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture.
2022, Moderator, "Reciprocal Landscapes: Stories of Material Movements," lecture + talk with Jane Mah Hutton (University of Waterloo), at University of Basel, Urban Studies division.
Research Interests
Furiassi's interests lie at the intersection of architectural history, urban politics, and material culture. Rooted in primary research, his work investigates buildings and environments to question canonical narratives that have privileged certain authors and contexts as epicenters of cultural production and historical change. Furiassi's current research focuses on material flows and traces the urbanization of Sicily during Italy’s postwar building boom, elucidating the social and spatial impacts of the Mafia’s concrete developments. Besides his academic endeavors, Furiassi is versed in participatory design practices that connect and strengthen communities. Ongoing architectural projects include an alternative, free wifi infrastructure, that centers and empowers the residents of public housing in East Harlem, New York City.
Awards And Honors
Canadian Centre for Architecture, DRRP Fellowship 2025.
Swiss Institute, Palermo Calling: Art & Science Fellowship 2024/2025.
Columbia University, GSAPP Incubator Prize 2021//2022 & 2022/2023.
ArchLeague NY & NYSCA, Architecture + Design Independent Projects Grant 2022/2023.
Swiss National Science Foundation, Mobility Research Grant 2022/2023.
Swiss National Science Foundation, Doc.CH 2022/2026.