3 questions for Mathilde de l’Ecotais designer, photographer and scenographer
You are taking part in the exhibition, “Do not Disturb, in Praise of Intimacy”, in the Exclusive Collection area at EquipHotel 2026. What were your sources of inspiration for this scenography?
Mathilde de l’Ecotais: I started from a series of photographs of fish that I created in Japan, and in particular images of fugu fins — an iconic species in Japanese gastronomy — which I then had printed by artisans on a range of materials, both refined and raw. As another source of inspiration, I would also mention a fish-drying rack converted into a hotel, which I also discovered in Japan.
How did you approach the notion of intimacy?
Mathilde de l’Ecotais: For EquipHotel, I imagined a highly immersive space halfway between a spa and a bathroom, where images of fugu fins, printed on leather, mosaic surfaces and even straw mats, are omnipresent from floor to ceiling. You feel protected, enveloped by nature. I could sum up my working method like this: one single theme — that of the fish — gives rise to several visuals, each one unique, which unfold within the same space and could be extended, on a larger scale, throughout an entire hotel.
Environmental concerns matter to you. How did you address that aspect in your scenography?
Mathilde de l’Ecotais: I placed particular emphasis on recycling, as well as on saving energy and water. I worked in particular with recycled aluminium, which retains heat. As for the washbasin, it serves a dual purpose and becomes a Japanese wooden tub, whose water is then poured into the shower… It is a way of becoming aware of how much water we consume. And in choosing materials such as aluminium, wood and leather, I also wanted to express a commitment to durability: a bathroom or a spa is meant to last a lifetime
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