Masquespacio, Ambassadors of Maison&Objet Pulse and Paris Design Week

From their furniture collections to the highly distinctive interiors they create, not to mention the projects they oversee as artistic directors, these leading figures of the contemporary scene refuse to be confined by boundaries. Zoom on their collaboration with Maison&Objet and Paris Design Week in September 2026.

You are coming back from a year-long break during which you rethought the way you work and approach your projects. How has this pause transformed your design philosophy today?
Christophe Penasse: We asked ourselves questions like, “Who are we today?”, “Which ideals do we identify with now?”, and “Are we still 100% connected to our creative approach?”, and the answer was no, not entirely. As individuals and as creatives, we have evolved and so has the world around us. We felt the need to bring meaning back into our overall approach. So, we gave ourselves time, time spent in Bali.
Ana Milena Hernandez: A year of disconnection, immersed in another culture, gave us perspective. We came back with the same passion, but also with a desire to evolve the way we create and approach new projects, towards a more intuitive, almost spiritual process.
Christophe Penasse: Reconnecting with ourselves, with others, and with the unique stories of our clients became an obvious direction. That is now where we draw our inspiration from. Our relationship to consumption has also shifted, making room for a more conscious, wellbeing-oriented approach. Less driven by trends, we now embrace a more personal vision.

As a creative duo with dual cultural backgrounds, how does this shape your stylistic identity and your day-to-day collaboration?
Ana Milena Hernandez: I am Colombian and Christophe is Belgian. Our studio is based in Valencia, Spain, and our team is international. The MASQUESPACIO vision is global and multicultural.
Christophe Penasse: We are a Yin and Yang duo. We live and create together, and that closeness has helped us understand each other deeply, as well as the richness of our respective cultures. I come from a more rational background, while Ana draws from a creative and emotional sensitivity. In our projects, Ana embodies the creative soul, while I engage with clients and present our work. This complementarity defines the way we work.
Ana Milena Hernandez: I’m the heart, and you’re the brain.
Christophe Penasse: Exactly. We share the same vision, both in life and in work. Our tastes overlap, in design, in music, and every day we learn to listen to each other more closely.

Your projects stand out for their expressive, scenographic dimension and bold use of color. How do you play with decorative codes to immerse clients in vibrant spaces?
Ana Milena Hernandez: Immersing ourselves in new cultures constantly feeds our creativity—a local cuisine, a landscape from another part of the world… Every encounter and every experience enriches our perspective and inspires our work.
Christophe Penasse: We deliberately seek inspiration beyond current trends. Taking time, designing according to a “slow life” approach, has become our priority.
Ana Milena Hernandez: We also draw inspiration from difference, it becomes an authentic signature.
Christophe Penasse: This is reflected in our choice of materials as well. We are increasingly drawn to wood, selecting specific species for their imperfections and authenticity in relation to a project. When choosing marble, we avoid the conventional, we look for unexpected colors. Material selection is strategic; it embodies this new positioning, our style. Materials are about comfort, about the feeling of being at home. We aim for a style that has lasting impact.

The theme of this edition, “Pulse in Motion,” evokes energy and movement. How does this translate into the space you are imagining for Maison&Objet?
Christophe Penasse: “Pulse in Motion” represents an energy that emerges from places, from dynamics, but above all from the people who bring them to life. In a world largely driven by technology, we advocate for human reconnection.

You also designed the poster for the September 2026 edition. What lies behind this new visual identity?
Christophe Penasse: This creation reflects who we are. It speaks about humanity through materiality. Our intention is to make people “feel” texture through the gaze.
Ana Milena Hernandez: We thought: “More.” More emotion, more color, more of everything.
Christophe Penasse: The poster also says a lot about our vision of the future and our relationship to authenticity.
Ana Milena Hernandez: We want this image to be an invitation to contemplation, to slowing down and taking time.