Lucas Buol + Marco Zünd

Lukas Buol, 1964, Zurich, Architect

Trained as a structural draftsman, studied architecture at the Basle School of Engineering, graduated in 1991 under Michael Alder and, together with Marco Zünd, founded his own architectural studio in Basle that has won many study contracts and project competitions. Conversion of the former Lohnhof prison in Basle into a hotel and meeting centre. Furniture designs for Nils Holger Moormann and for Wohnbedarf Basel, including the Zoll-D metal shelving system and the Turtle Bed. Received the Swiss Design Award. In 1996, visiting lecturer at the Basle School of Design.

Marco Zünd, 1966, Basel, Architect

Trained as a structural draftsman, studied architecture at the Basle School of Engineering, graduated in 1991 under Michael Alder and, together with Marco Zünd, founded his own architectural studio in Basle that has won many study contracts and project competitions. Conversion of the former Lohnhof prison in Basle into a hotel and meeting centre. Furniture designs for Nils Holger Moormann and for Wohnbedarf Basel, including the Zoll-D metal shelving system and the Turtle Bed. Received the Swiss Design Award. Assistant to Hans Kollhoff at ETH Zurich. Guest critic at ETHZ and at TU Dresden.

Turtle Bed

A stackable bed made from a plywood shell: put one frame on top of the other to create a couch or two frames next to each other for a double bed or use one frame for a guest bed. The Turtle bed is a flexible and simple alternative to immovable furniture.

Frame and base are made from one piece: the stackable Turtle Bed consists of a plywood shell that is raised off the floor and features a natural lacquer finish. The standard dimensions are 200/96, 6/18 (L/B/H). The routed channels create suspension and provide airing for the mattress.

When stacked, the feet fit into the handles. Through this mechanism, the Turtle Bed can easily be turned into a couch, a double bed or a guest bed. This architectural concept by Lukas Buol and Marco Zünd is a fascinatingly simple design to facilitate flexible living. The Turtle Bed received the 1995 Design Prize Switzerland.