sensory machines of glass, light and sound animate 20-meter interactive christmas table

La Mécanique de Noël: a 20-meter interactive Christmas table

La Mécanique de Noël is a 20-meter interactive installation designed by Hellène Gaulier and Gwénolé Gasnier of Agence GG for the refectory of Fontevraud Abbey, in France. Conceived as a large communal table, the project explores the sensory and mechanical dimensions of festive gatherings through an assemblage of interactive devices, blown glass elements, lighting, sound, and scent.

The installation draws reference from both lived and imagined Christmas meals, translating familiar rituals into a spatial and mechanical composition. Rather than focusing solely on food, the table incorporates the broader environment of a festive dinner, including decoration, movement, sound, and atmosphere. A series of mechanical systems animates glass objects, triggers light sequences, and releases scents, creating a layered sensory experience distributed along the length of the table.

Visitors are invited to engage directly with the installation through buttons, levers, and handles embedded within the structure. These controls activate different elements of the table, producing variations in sound, light, and motion. The interaction introduces unpredictability, allowing the environment to shift continuously as multiple participants contribute to the sequence of events. The installation thus operates as a collective mechanism, shaped in real time by visitor participation.

blow a name into the microphone to light a candle | all images courtesy of Agence GG

Blown Glass and Mechanics adorn the festive table by Agence GG

Set within the historic context of Fontevraud Abbey, the project establishes a dialogue between contemporary mechanical design and the architectural setting of the refectory. References to traditional winter imagery, such as fireplaces, festive lighting, and ceremonial table settings, are abstracted into mechanical and sensory cues rather than literal scenography. Blown glass components play a central role, functioning as both decorative and interactive elements within the system.

Developed by Hellène Gaulier and Gwénolé Gasnier of Studio Agence GG in collaboration with the Abbey of Fontevraud and the CIAV of Meisenthal, the project is the result of a year-long process involving partners across several regions of France. By combining mechanics, glassmaking, and interactive design, La Mécanique de Noël constructs an immersive environment that examines collective rituals through participation, material experimentation, and controlled sensory complexity.

overview of the 20-meter table in the heart of the refectory of the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud

blown glass Snowstorm to be operated with cranks

grilled chicken odor diffusion device

crane for micro glass fly feast

sand lock carafe, making life gluttonous

machine to toast glasses

take a seat to put on the suit

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blown glass bow tie with CIAV Meisenthal

puffed glass bread in the workshops of the International Glass Art Center of Meisenthal (France)

blown glass chicken in the workshop of the International Glass Art Center of Meisenthal

preparatory drawings

project info:

name: La Mécanique de Noël – Interactive Christmas Table
designer: Agence GG | @agencegg
lead designers: Hellène Gaulier & Gwénolé Gasnier

location: Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, France

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom