pihlmann

'Making Matter What Too Often Does Not Matter: Material Protagonists of a Site-Derived Architecture' is a collaborative book authored by architect Søren Pihlmann and poet Adam Dickinson. Published in May 2025 by Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König and Danish Architectural Press, it accompanies the 'Build of Site' exhibition at the Danish Pavilion for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, which Søren Pihlmann curated.

The publication investigates the implications of a site-derived architectural practice and its associated ethical considerations. It proposes an approach to design that emphasizes the inherent qualities and potential of existing materials, particularly those often deemed insignificant or overlooked, thereby articulating how architecture can be shaped by valuing elements frequently disregarded.

The book's physical design underscores this premise, utilizing six different kinds of paper to layer various methodologies, ranging from 3D scans and the systematic tracing and categorization of every building material found within and around the pavilion, to time schedules for renovation and detailed architectural drawings.

The book's core content unfolds through an extended dialogue between Søren Pihlmann's architectural insights and Adam Dickinson's interdisciplinary poetic and scientific methodology. Dickinson, writer and professor of poetry, integrates laboratory-based scientific experiments with expanded modes of writing to analyze the intricate relationships between biological systems and their environments. This collaborative framework allows for unconventional analytical approaches to explore a broad spectrum of "matter," from microscopic organisms and biological components to conventional construction materials like concrete and steel, and abstract concepts such as metaphors.

Thematically, the book is structured around sections such as 'Material Journeys,' which explores the origins and transformations of architectural components; 'Amplified Stones,' suggesting a deeper appreciation of foundational materials; and 'Otherwise Obscured Interiors,' which aims to reveal hidden processes and qualities. Chapters like 'New Chemical Lives' delve into the active and transformative nature of materials, while 'Escapably Modern' reflects on the legacy and evolution of architectural principles.

The book also includes specific sections like 'The Danish Pavilion' and 'Build of Site,' providing insights into the exhibition itself, alongside conversational dialogues such as 'Directed Curiosity, Frictional Futures,' 'Multiple Logics,' and 'Playful Potentials,' which explore methodological approaches and future possibilities. The manual 'How I Build' offers practical perspectives on architectural processes.

Cover blurbs by:

- Lisa Robertson
- Aaron Betsky
- Nikolaj Schultz

The work presented in the book is made in collaboration with:

- Felix Hilgert (Lehmag AG / ETH Zürich)
- Julian Christ (University of Copenhagen)
- Serkan Karatosun, Katja Irene Møller (Technical University of Denmark)
- Victor Boye, Alberte Hyttel Reddersen et al. (Royal Danish Academy – Architecture)
- Yasuhiro Kaneda
- Carlotta Borgato and Jan Boelen
- M+B Studio srl
- Gjerulff & Lassen A/S
- Spazio Legno Venezia srl
- Studio Gisto
- Oxara AG

Generously supported by:
- The Ministry of Culture
- The Danish Arts Foundation’s Committee for Architecture
- Realdania
- Danish Architecture Center
- The Dreyer Foundation
- The Beckett Foundation
- The Politiken Foundation
- The Arne V. Schleschs Foundation
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs