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Blog / Inspiration / An interview with matali crasset. Design to Live Twice. A project for Actiu.
An interview with matali crasset. Design to Live Twice. A project for Actiu.

An interview with matali crasset. Design to Live Twice. A project for Actiu.

SEPTEMBER 2026
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5 minutes
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matali crasset is one of the most distinctive and committed voices in contemporary design.

Her practice is research-driven, cross-disciplinary, and deliberately anti-formalist: she seeks expanded functions and new typologies linked to modularity and hospitality, rather than pure form.

Matali focuses her collaborations on Living Heritage Companies (EPV) centered on their own production facilities—from La Rochère to Roger Pradier—and develops architectural designs for Atelier Tuffery and Missègle.

matali crasset by Julien Jouanjus
matali crasset by Julien Jouanjus

His work ranges from set design for a ballet at the Bordeaux Opera to an exhibition at the UCCA in China, titled “Raw Modernism: Accolay Clay Today,” and flexible spaces such as the MuMo Museum.

His work is part of numerous public collections, from the Centre Pompidou to MoMA in New York.

He embodies a critical, social, and ecological approach to design that challenges everyday conventions to invent more generous and connected ways of living.

Their deep commitment is driven by radical research into extreme sustainability—a new direction and path for humanity.

A space for relaxation designed by matali crasset
A space for reflection designed by matali crasset

A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND NEW WAYS OF LIVING CONNECTED

1. What does the LIVING TWICE project mean to you at ACTIU?

The expression simply means living in such a way that it is as if you were living twice. “Living twice” is a space within the workplace or the home, designed to enrich one’s lived experience and to help people connect with a new and different path for their daily lives.

2. This project seems to build on your previous research—an evolution of your commitment and your narrative. In what way?

It is a logical continuation of my research—on the one hand, on the expansion of function to the scale of space, and on the other, on the establishment of new typologies that draw upon the commons we need today as human beings.

3. You talk about an “augmented space” and expanding boundaries, but without resorting to virtual tools. How would you define it?

The idea is to imagine an “augmented” space: a physical environment that has been enriched, but without resorting to virtual tools, remaining firmly anchored in reality. A hybrid environment, yet one that is entirely real.

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

PROMOTING SOCIAL INTERACTION AND CONVERSATION

4. Why does it align so well with ACTIU's philosophy?

Because it reflects the brand’s pragmatism. Project after project, Actiu is building a track record that is genuinely committed to people and the planet. It shapes projects that are essential—and therefore enduring. The vitality of the company’s ecosystem and the loyalty of its users depend on it.

5. What is its main practical advantage?

A unique space that allows you to move very quickly from one living scenario to another. It has the advantage of enabling two activities to coexist within a more compact area without requiring substantial modifications, since the setup consists solely of furniture.

6. What is the essence of the innovation developed with ACTIU?

The innovation lies in the creation of a central hemispherical screen—a comfortable focal point. This hemispherical shape serves a dual purpose: it acts as both a signal and a focal point.

Indeed. A shape that serves as both a signal and a focal point. It’s a deliberate choice. It’s a new type of screen that revitalizes existing Actiu furniture pieces, proposing a new way to organize them within the space.

Screen designed by Matali Crasset using Actiu products
Screen designed by matali crasset using Actiu products

ENABLE ADVANCED HUMAN INTERACTIONS

7. Could you tell us how this first iteration works?

On the one hand, it allows people to gather to work formally—around a semi-circular table facing the screen, which can accommodate a monitor—or informally, together on a sofa. On the other hand, there’s a space for a coffee break, lunch, or an informal meeting, consisting of several islands that allow people to gather in small groups.

8. What are you highlighting with the details of the project and its conceptual evolution?

It is a sign that invites people to pause, gather, be together, and share. A colorful sign composed of concentric circles in different shades that radiate outward from the center. The color of these circles coordinates with that of the surrounding furniture, thus creating a sense of unity in the space. A sign that sets the space apart while maintaining a sense of serenity. A screen that keeps the space open enough to remain part of daily life, yet closed enough to create a distinct atmosphere on either side. It consists of a double acoustic panel made of recycled PET felt, which reduces noise disturbances. A human-scale screen, 2.50 meters tall, that maintains reasonable proportions and breaks away from the conventions of conventional partition elements thanks to its hemispherical shape.

Matali Crasset for Actiu at Paris Design Week 2026
Matali Crasset for Actiu at Paris Design Week 2026

DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE WITH A FOCUS ON THE PLANET

9. And what about the advanced view of centrality in life?

Thanks to its shape, the space becomes a point of convergence, a meeting place. In urban planning, centrality refers to the ability of a place—a hub—to exert a pull, a polarizing force, and to provide services to a broader territory or network. Here, centrality applies on a smaller scale, but the structure anchors the life of the space into which it is inserted. It is embodied by the convergence of the circle at the center of the panel with that of the table facing it.

10. New Horizons for Human Life Through Design?

A sustainable future is not merely about technology; it is about behavior. I strive to develop creative and meaningful projects that are rooted in the local community, repairable, and shared: compact spaces that allow different ways of life to coexist, foster the exchange of knowledge and heritage, and support a better way of living in connection with nature.

LIVING TWICE

Notes on the connections and intersections between matali crasset and ACTIU

  • Circularity: Living Twice is closely intertwined with concepts such as reuse, a second life, durability, repair, adaptability, and products capable of growing, shrinking, or evolving as needs change.
  • Well-being and Neuroarchitecture: The Time of the Senses: how color, acoustics, light, or the layout of a space can influence how we feel and behave—whether it be calm, stimulation, concentration, collaboration, or connection with others.
  • Biophilia and nature: The commitment to applying research on vegetation, textures, and materials—those elements that remind us of the outdoors and nature, and make us feel that the space is alive.
  • Industry: The new role and responsibility of industry. The ability to bring ideas to life and scale them up through research, knowledge, engineering, and manufacturing—but also to decide how we impact the planet. Industry can be part of the problem or a very important part of the solution.