logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
32m 10s

How to transform buildings with no waste

Danish Architecture Center – DAC
About this episode

Søren Pihlmann, founder of pihlmann architects, is among the hottest up-and-coming names in Danish architecture right now. Known for his ambitious approach to transformations, Søren Pihlmann insists on reusing as much of the existing buildings as possible - from plumbing to concrete beams - and adapting them for the new purpose of the building. 

In this episode, host Michael Booth visits Søren Pihlmann at the building site of one of his most radical projects yet: Thoravej 29 in north-west Copenhagen. Here, a former office for a Danish fur company is being transformed into a diverse cultural center, with the use of the materials already at hand at the site. In the episode Søren Pihlmann explains the ideas behind his hardcore approach to the reuse of on-site materials, and reveals why, to him, this approach is about more than sustainability, but also holds potential for a new aesthetic. 

Let’s Talk Architecture is a podcast by Danish Architecture Center, with sound edits by Munch Studio.

Up next
Sep 25
How to build a megaproject: The Fermern Belt Link
What defines a megaproject? And why do they so often go over both budget and schedule? Denmark has earned a reputation for successfully completing large-scale construction projects – whether they are bridges, tunnels, land reclamation or offshore wind farms. The latest Danish meg ... Show More
27m 52s
Aug 28
Can design strengthen community?
Right now, 150 new community spaces are being built across Denmark – primarily using recycled materials – as part of an extraordinary project called Vores Sted (Our Place). Funded by the Danish philanthropic association Realdania, the project aims to reinvent the community gather ... Show More
33m 1s
Jul 31
Designing for presence in a digital age
Has presence become a luxury in the digital age? And do we lose contact with the world around us when so much of our lives unfold in front of a screen? In this episode of Let’s Talk Architecture host Michael Booth meets Nikoline Dyrup, architect and founding partner of Danish arc ... Show More
29m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
411. Stockholm Wood City - Linus Kjellberg
Linus Kjellberg  (Head of Business Development, Atrium Ljungberg, Stockholm, Sweden) We are talking about Stockholm Wood City – the world’s largest wooden city. In a ground-breaking move, the Swedish urban developer Atrium Ljungberg has initiated Stockholm Wood City - the world's ... Show More
41m 38s
Feb 2025
From Ground Zero to Luxury Resorts: Designing Spaces That Transform Lives
Kevin Kennon is an internationally renowned architect with over 40 years of experience, specializing in environmentally sustainable and innovative design. As the founder and CEO of Beyond Zero DDC Inc., Kevin leads the development of zero-carbon emission luxury eco-resorts in rem ... Show More
37m 28s
Aug 18
Episode 261: New designs, cladding & facade trends and the value of Stratco's local manufacturing base with Eric Lien and Andrew Steele
In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into Stratco, an Australian company with over 75 years of experience providing building solutions for both professionals and homeowners. Stratco offers a wide range of products, including patios, carports, verandahs, garages, sheds, and o ... Show More
37m 55s
Jan 2025
#359 - Cormac’s Problem with Corbusier
In this episode, we discuss Cormac’s excitement about the Detroit Lions making the playoffs and explore the significant transformation happening in Detroit. We examine how the city's struggles have led to a new era of development and restoration. The main focus of our conversatio ... Show More
46m 48s
Jul 16
Shohei Shigematsu: Defining Radicality in Architecture
As the partner running the New York outpost of Rem Koolhaas’s legendary firm OMA, this architect has done that rarest of things: established himself as a cultural figure in his own right. On this Season 13 finale, Dan speaks with Shigematsu about growing up in the heyday of 1980s ... Show More
59m 49s
Feb 2025
Culturvator Conversations Podcast: Architecture That Speaks with Ahmed Fayyad
In this episode of Culturvator Conversations, and in light of Designer’s Circle, Shahd Osman sits down with renowned architect Ahmed Fayyad to explore the intersection of art, architecture, and human experience. From designing iconic spaces to reshaping urban landscapes, Fayyad s ... Show More
42m 23s
Apr 2024
Reinventing Spaces With Concrete Furniture | Carlo Massoud
In the third episode of the Design Doha podcast, Carlo Massoud joins us to discuss his and his sister Mary-Lynn's joint creative practice, from using man-made materials to produce homeware in organic shapes – and melding their two creative practices and training – to how Beirut i ... Show More
23m 27s
Sep 29
TLDR Le Corbusier | Villa Savoye
Le Corbusier (born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) was a pioneer of modern architecture whose ideas reshaped our urban landscapes. A Swiss-born, French-naturalized architect, designer, and urban planner, Le Corbusier championed a new vision for living in the 20th century. His philosop ... Show More
13m 1s
Sep 17
237: Is demolition the biggest mistake in architecture? | Anne-Marie Galmstrup & Enlai Hooi
This week, I’m joined by Anne-Marie Galmstrup, architect and Obel Award jury member, and Enlai Hooi, Head of Innovation at Schmidt Hammer Lassen and part of House Europe. They share a visionary yet practical take on how retrofitting, not tearing down, can reshape Europe’s urban f ... Show More
42m 25s