The present invention relates to a cushion element (14) for a patient interface (10) for providing a flow of breathable gas to a patient (12), wherein the cushion element (14) comprises a face-contacting layer (32) for contacting a face of the patient (12) during use of the cushion element (14) and a multi-layer responsive structure (34) which is covered by the face-contacting layer (32). The responsive structure (34) comprises a plurality of actuators (38, 40) for moving the face-contacting layer (32), wherein said plurality of actuators (38, 40) comprises first actuators (38) belonging to a first group of actuators and second actuators (40) belonging to a second group of actuators. Each of the first and the second actuators (38, 40) comprises an electrode (44, 46). The electrodes (44) of the first actuators (38) are arranged in one or more first layers (50), and wherein the electrodes (46) of the second actuators (40) are arranged in one or more second layers (52), wherein the one or more first and second layers (50, 52) are arranged above each other. The electrodes (44) of the first actuators (38) are, with respect to a first axis (42) transverse to the one or more first and second layers (50, 52), arranged spatially offset relative to the electrodes (46) of the second actuators (40) such that the electrodes (44) of the first actuators (38) do not overlap the electrodes (46) of the second actuators (40) when being viewed along the first axis (42).
