How can we design spaces that are both welcoming and make people feel at home? That’s the question explored by Constance Guisset—designer, interior architect, and scenographer— in this first episode of our podcast.
Known for her work on living and working spaces at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the National Institute of Art History, and the Villa Medici in Rome, Constance Guisset reflects on the etymology of the verb accueillir—a word that holds particular meaning for her.  While it translates roughly as “to welcome”in English, its roots in Latin and old French evoke gathering, connecting and bringing people together.

According to Guisset, public spaces such as train stations—which fill up, then empty out repeatedly over the course of a single day, should not function merely as places of transit. Through their beauty and comfort, they should also encourage people to linger, meet and feel at ease.