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Blog / Inspiration / An interview with matali crasset Living twice design A project for Actiu
An interview with matali crasset Living twice design A project for Actiu

An interview with matali crasset Living twice design 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) centred 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, entitled ‘Raw Modernism: Accolay Clay Today’, and flexible spaces such as the MuMo Museum.

His work is included in 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 humankind.

A space for reflection designed by Matali Crasset
A space for relaxation designed by Matali Crasset

A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND NEW WAYS OF LIVING CONNECTED

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

The expression simply means leading a life in such a way that it is as though one were living it twice over. ‘Living twice’ is a space within the workplace or the home, designed to enrich one’s lived experience, to help us discover a new and different path for our everyday lives.

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

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

3. You talk about an ‘augmented space’ and about pushing 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 rooted in reality. A hybrid environment, yet entirely real.

A space to meet and work informally, by Matali Crasset
A space for getting together to work in an informal setting, by Matali Crasset

FOSTERING 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 brings essential – and therefore enduring – projects to life. 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 any major alterations, as the layout consists solely of furniture.

6. What is the basis 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: as a sign and as a focal point.

Indeed. A shape that serves both as a focal point and a centre. It is a deliberate choice. It is a new type of screen that revitalises existing Actiu furniture, proposing a new arrangement for them within the space.

A screen designed by Matali Crasset using Actiu products
A 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 either formally — around a semi-circular table facing the screen, which can accommodate a monitor — or informally, sitting together on a sofa. On the other hand, there is a space for a coffee break, lunch or an informal meeting, comprising several islands that allow people to gather in small groups.

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

It is a sign that invites people to pause, to gather, to be together, to share. A colourful sign consisting of concentric circles in different shades that radiate outwards from the centre. The colour of these circles is coordinated with that of the surrounding furniture, thereby creating a sense of unity within the space. A sign that sets the space apart whilst maintaining a sense of serenity. A screen that keeps the space open enough to remain part of everyday life, yet closed enough to create a distinct atmosphere on either side. It consists of a double acoustic panel made from recycled PET felt, which reduces noise disturbance. A human-scale screen, 2.50 metres high, which remains within reasonable proportions and breaks away from the conventions of conventional partitioning 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 denotes the capacity of a place – a hub – to exert a pull, a polarising force, and to provide services to a wider area or network. Here, centrality is applied on a smaller scale, but the structure anchors the life of the space into which it is introduced. It is brought to life through the convergence of the circle at the centre of the panel with that of the table opposite it.

10. New horizons for human life through design?

A sustainable future is not merely about technology; it is about behaviour. 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 harmony with nature.

LIVING TWICE

Notes on the connections and intersections between Matali Crasset and ACTIU

  • Circularity: Living Twice is closely interlinked with concepts such as reuse, a second life, durability, repair, adaptability and products capable of growing, shrinking or evolving as needs change.
  • Wellbeing and neuroarchitecture: The time of the senses: how colour, acoustics, light or the layout of a space can influence how we feel and behave: calm, stimulation, concentration, collaboration or connection with others.
  • Biophilia and nature: A commitment to applying research into 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.