From 10 May to 23 November 2025, the Danish Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale hosts Søren Pihlmann’s Build of Site—an exhibition that blends building practice with material innovation. Located in the Giardini della Biennale, the pavilion, highlights a new architectural approach focused on material reuse, bio-based components, and circular design. This is Denmark’s official contribution to the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
Instead of installing a temporary showcase, the pavilion is undergoing a real transformation. Build of Site uses the Biennale as an opportunity to improve the building through long-term renovation. The aim is to show how architecture can benefit from using what already exists—without compromising quality or aesthetics.
Architect Søren Pihlmann, founder of pihlmann architects, leads the project. He based the work on a 2016 analysis that revealed key problems in the pavilion. These included frequent flooding and unstable floors. To solve these issues, the team began upgrading the structure before the Biennale opened. Renovations include repairs to doors, floors, and windows.
What makes this project special is the method. The team uses reclaimed materials from the site and combines them with biobased binders. The result is a process that is both environmentally friendly and visually expressive. Visitors can see the building being renewed during the exhibition.
The main idea behind Build of Site is simple: use what is already there. The team carefully assessed the pavilion’s materials, such as bricks and timber. These materials were recovered, repaired, and reused. The goal was to reduce waste and avoid unnecessary transport.
By combining recycled elements with new sustainable materials, the project offers a clear path toward low-carbon architecture. It shows that design can emerge from limitation and that material reuse does not mean aesthetic compromise.
The exhibition follows the Biennale’s 2025 theme: “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.” In that spirit, the project brings together researchers, craftsmen, and designers. Partners include the Royal Danish Academy, University of Copenhagen, Technical University of Denmark, and ETH Zurich.
Each group contributes specific knowledge to the renovation. Together, they create a rich mix of technical expertise and creative thinking. Everything produced stays in the building, proving that exhibitions can also be long-term improvements.
Visitors won’t just see the end results—they’ll see the renovation in progress. Photos by Hampus Berndtson and a documentary by Simon Weyhe (Louisiana Channel) capture the journey. Through these, guests gain insight into a design process that is usually hidden.
As Søren Pihlmann puts it, “We’ve already created everything we need. The challenge is to better understand and find value in what already exists.”
Søren Pihlmann’s Build of Site is relevant for architects, interior designers, and landscape architects. It provides practical ideas for adaptive reuse, biobased construction, and circular renovation. The project demonstrates how sustainable design can also be beautiful and deeply connected to place.
Rather than viewing renovation as a necessary task, this project presents it as an opportunity for innovation.
Source: Archdaily, Danish Architecture Center
Photos: Hampus Berndtson