Build of Site concludes the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia with strong international recognition

A new perspective on the pavilion – and on architectural practice

In this year’s exhibition, curator and architect Søren Pihlmann transformed the Danish Pavilion into a living, investigative hybrid exhibition space and renovation site. Instead of creating a temporary scenography, the Danish contribution invested directly in the pavilion’s future by making visible the ongoing climate adaptation work needed to protect the building against flooding. Visitors did not encounter a traditional exhibition, but rather a construction site temporarily suspended in time.

From the opening on May 10 until late November, approximately 300,000 visitors passed through the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.

A living laboratory for the future of architecture

Build of Site addressed a central and globally relevant question: How can we build upon the world without building anew?

Work in the pavilion ranged from excavating soil layers to analyzing limestone tiles, concrete, sand, silt, and clay, carried out in close collaboration with researchers and students from the Royal Danish Academy, the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen, and ETH Zurich. Podiums, benches, ramps, and tables were constructed using surplus materials uncovered during renovation—making the journey and potential of these materials fully visible to the public.

In the Koch Room, Louisiana Channel’s film Make Materials Matter showcased two years of research and process. The film became Louisiana Channel’s most viewed architecture video of 2025, with more than 44,000 views on its own platforms and over 130,000 views on Instagram.

In parallel, the English-language publication Making Matter What Too Often Does Not Matter, created by Søren Pihlmann and poet Adam Dickinson, brought together the material studies and reflections of the exhibition in an international professional format.

The exhibition was not merely a presentation but also marked the beginning of a real climate adaptation of the pavilion. Renovation work is now underway, and toward 2026 the pavilion will be elevated with a new raised concrete floor, reinstalled tiles, and technical improvements derived directly from the exhibition’s investigative approach.

Strong international attention

The exhibition’s theme and method resonated with the global moment, reflected in notable international media coverage. Numerous leading architecture and culture outlets published feature articles, interviews, and editorial recommendations of Build of Site. Several of the world’s most influential architecture media highlighted the exhibition’s boldness, methodology, and relevance:

“This is what an architecture exhibition should be… its labor visible, and its intentions clear.” – The Architect’s Newspaper

“The Danish Pavilion looks like a bomb has gone off inside – showing real-time renovation works… a rugged and honest exhibition.” – The Guardian

“Build of Site highlights the value of adaptive reuse… Pihlmann is perfectly placed to answer such questions.” – ICON

Curator Carlo Ratti’s overall theme, Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective., was interpreted in the Danish Pavilion with a particular focus on material understanding, craftsmanship, existing structures, and future resource use—an approach that resonated widely in the international debate.

A contribution that sets a direction

Build of Site left a clear mark on this year’s Biennale: by insisting on long-term architectural thinking rather than temporary solutions, by revealing the inherent value and history of materials, and by demonstrating how architectural practice can be both experimental and responsible.

With this year’s results, Denmark is strongly positioned within the international architectural landscape—both as a professional frontrunner and as a bold voice in today’s conversations about resources, materials, and the future of the built environment.

The 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia took place from May 10 to November 23, 2025.

Learn more about Denmark’s contribution at www.dac.dk and follow @danishpavilion_architecture on social media.

About the Danish Pavilion

The Danish Pavilion in Venice, owned by the Danish Ministry of Culture, is used for the Architecture and Art Exhibitions organized by La Biennale di Venezia. Danish Architecture Center has been appointed by the Ministry of Culture as commissioner for the official Danish contribution to the 19th International Architecture Exhibition. The project was created in collaboration with Realdania, the Ministry of Culture, and the Danish Arts Foundation’s Committee for Architecture Grants and Project Funding.

About the International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia

The International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia – is the world’s largest architecture event, held every two years in Venice. More than sixty countries, including Denmark, participate with exhibitions in the historic pavilions in the Giardini, the Arsenale, and across the city. The theme of the 19th edition is Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective., curated by Italian architect and engineer Carlo Ratti.
Learn more at www.labiennale.org.

Acknowledgements

Danish Ministry of Culture
Realdania
Danish Arts Foundation’s Committee for Architecture Grants and Project Support

Further acknowledgements
Dreyers Fond
Knud Højgaard Fond
Otto Mønsteds Fond