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Blog / Design / A proposal by matali crasset for Actiu
A proposal by matali crasset for Actiu

A proposal by matali crasset for Actiu

SEPTEMBER 2026
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3 minutes
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The expression “LIVING TWICE” simply means living one’s life in a way that is equivalent to living it twice. “Living Twice” is a space within a company or the home environment, designed to enrich one’s lived experience. This project is a logical continuation of my research—on the one hand, on expanding function to the scale of space, and on the other, on implementing new typologies that bring people together.

It involves imagining an “augmented” space: a physical environment that has been enriched, but without resorting to virtual tools, remaining firmly anchored in reality. A hybrid environment that is nonetheless entirely real.

A single space that allows you to move very quickly from one setting to another.

A project that embodies the brand’s pragmatism, which:

_builds, project after project, a genuine track record of commitment to people and the planet.

_shapes projects that are meaningful and, as a result, enduring. The vitality of the company’s ecosystem and user loyalty depend on it.

A single space that allows you to move very quickly from one lifestyle scenario to another. It has the advantage of enabling two activities to coexist in a more compact space without requiring major modifications, since the system consists solely of furniture.

The innovation lies in the creation of a semispherical central display.
A space for relaxation designed by Matali Crasset
A space for relaxation designed by Matali Crasset

The first version of the project presented proposes: on the one hand, gathering to work formally (around a semispherical table and facing the screen divider, which can hold a monitor) or informally on a sofa, but together. On the other hand, a space for coffee breaks or lunch is set up, consisting of several islands that allow people to gather in small groups.

A space to gather and work informally, by Matali Crasset
A space to gather and work informally, by Matali Crasset

A form that serves as both a sign and a focal point:

_A sign inviting people to pause and gather. A colorful sign formed by concentric circles of different colors radiating outward from the center. The colors of these circles are coordinated with those of the surrounding furniture, thus creating a sense of unity in the space. A sign to highlight the space while maintaining a spirit of serenity. A panel that keeps the space open enough to be integrated into daily life and closed enough to create a distinct atmosphere on each side. A panel composed of a double-layered acoustic panel made of recycled PET felt that helps reduce noise disturbances. A human-scale screen, 2.50 m high, that maintains reasonable proportions and breaks away from the conventions of typical partition elements thanks to its hemispherical shape.

Space designed by matali crasset for Actiu at Design Paris Week
Space designed by matali crasset for Actiu at Design Paris Week

_Centrality: Thanks to its shape, the space serves as a point of convergence and gathering. In urban planning, centrality refers to the capacity of a place or hub to exert a pull, to act as a focal point, and to provide services to a broader territory or network. Centrality applies here on a smaller scale, but the installation anchors life in the place where it is situated. It is embodied by the convergence of the circle at the center of the panel with that of the table opposite it.

A new type of room divider that reimagines existing furniture pieces from Actiu, offering a new way to organize the space.
Screen designed by Matali Crasset using Actiu products
Screen designed by Matali Crasset using Actiu products

It is a deliberate choice because, as the British philosopher Tim Ingold says, what matters in the creative process is not whether an idea is new or even whether it is an innovative combination of fragments of older ideas. What matters is the impact it has, and in this case, it is more a matter of a shift in perspective.

Portrait of Matali Crasset by Anthony Lanneretonne
Portrait of Matali Crasset by Anthony Lanneretonne
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