Pihlmann Lenschow

Amid a quiet forest clearing, Between Birch makes a case for architectural modesty. Designed by Kim Lenschow in collaboration with Pihlmann Architects, this small summerhouse demonstrates how careful choices in form, materials, and construction can result in a dwelling that is both ecologically and aesthetically light. With minimal disturbance to its surroundings, the house settles gently into the landscape—neither dominating nor disappearing, but attentively coexisting.



The house is built without a concrete foundation. Instead, slender helical screw piles lift the structure above the forest floor, preserving the integrity of the site. This thoughtful gesture sets the tone for the entire project, where lightness becomes both a technical and expressive principle. A timber frame, clad in modest materials, holds the volume together. The house reads as both temporary and rooted, like a structure that could have always been there—or might just quietly vanish with the seasons.


From a distance, the building appears as a compact gabled volume, but inside it surprises with vertical generosity. The proportions play with perception: small from the outside, spatially open within. A separate entrance leads to a small guest room, enabling spatial efficiency and privacy without sacrificing comfort. This division echoes the architectural approach—economical, yet refined.


Material choices are guided by a philosophy of enough. Birch plywood is used only where the body meets the building: touch points such as interior walls, built-ins, and ceilings. Other areas are left raw, exposing structural timber and the layers of construction. This strategy reduces material use and invites occupants to read the building’s logic—a quiet celebration of process and assembly. The result is a space that feels temporal, translucent, and calm.



Throughout the structure, detailing plays with the idea of lightness. Thinly cut metal fixtures in the bathroom, airy fiber insulation, and vertical facade elements that catch the sun at an angle all contribute to an impression of a building in soft motion—hovering, never heavy. It’s an architecture that reveals itself slowly, through shifts of light, subtle textures, and the rhythm of daily use.



Between Birch is the result of a collaboration between Kim Lenschow—a Danish architect known for her quiet, context-sensitive designs—and Pihlmann Architects, a Copenhagen-based practice working at the intersection of architecture, material research, and landscape. Together, they present a shared vision for low-impact living: an architecture that treads lightly, but resonates deeply.