Louisiana Channel, the prominent web television platform operated by Denmark's Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, has released a comprehensive 54-minute documentary titled "Søren Pihlmann: Make Materials Matter." Directed by Marc-Christoph Wagner and Simon Weyhe, the film offers an in-depth exploration of the founding architect of Pihlmann Architects and his innovative approach to sustainable architecture through material consciousness.
The documentary provides unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Pihlmann's work on Denmark's exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. Under Pihlmann's leadership, the Danish team transformed the country's permanent building in the Giardini into a functioning material laboratory and experimental construction site. This ambitious project served as both a renovation effort and a comprehensive material research initiative, resulting in a process exhibition that demonstrates how reimagining and repurposing existing structures can address contemporary architectural challenges.
The film opens with a powerful statement from German journalist Ullrich Fichtner, who notes that "the construction sector, as it exists today, consumes 50 percent of all raw materials from the global plate. It also produces 55 percent of all waste, including a great deal of toxic debris. Whoever develops good ideas here makes the world a better place." This quote establishes the documentary's central theme of environmental responsibility in architecture and sets the stage for examining Pihlmann's revolutionary approach to material usage.
Following Louisiana Channel's signature documentary style, the film allows Pihlmann to articulate his design philosophy in his own words. Viewers hear his personal testimony, innovative ideas, and thoughtful reflections on architecture's role in environmental sustainability. The documentary is enhanced by striking architectural photography, landscape imagery, and intimate portraits that provide visual context to his philosophical discussions about material consciousness and collaborative design processes.
Louisiana Channel's production team followed Pihlmann for three years, culminating in the summer 2025 production of "Make Materials Matter." The film showcases not only his thought processes but also his collaborative approach to architecture, which emphasizes partnerships across different professions and areas of expertise. The documentary extends beyond the Venice pavilion to examine other projects where Pihlmann demonstrates practical applications of material reuse and transformation in residential and commercial buildings.
The Venice pavilion renovation project highlighted in the film focused specifically on climate protection measures and comprehensive facility upgrades. Beyond showcasing Denmark's distinctive landscape, the vibrant city of Copenhagen, and various construction projects, the documentary presents a scientific methodology for material analysis and application. Viewers witness materials being deconstructed, elevated, combined, recreated, and rigorously tested in compelling demonstrations of recycling, recovery, and experimental processes.
Throughout the film, Pihlmann collaborates with a diverse range of professionals to examine materials and reassemble them into innovative applications, embodying his philosophy of "understanding the existing to predict the future." This approach reflects his belief that "the more we can let the material be the protagonist of the architecture, the more interesting the architecture becomes." The documentary illustrates core principles including the recognition of limitations in architectural practice, appreciation for process-oriented design, respect for historical traces embedded in materials, and the pursuit of honest construction using minimal new resources.
The documentary celebrated its world premiere during the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2025 before screening at prestigious international architecture film festivals in Rotterdam, New York, Zurich, and Bergen throughout October. The film subsequently traveled to Vancouver, Toronto, and Mumbai, building a global audience for its message about sustainable architecture practices.
Louisiana Channel, established in November 2012, has grown to become one of the world's largest platforms for contemporary art content, featuring over 1,300 videos with artists, architects, and writers. Recent notable interviews include Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto, who discusses fostering community through architecture; American architect Jenny E. Sabin, who explores responsive and adaptive architecture; and Mexican architect Gabriela Carrillo, who reflects on public space design and the relationship between architecture and land art. The platform continues to provide free access to high-quality architectural and artistic content, with "Make Materials Matter" now available for streaming online at no cost.
