AXYS: a new approach to the folding bunk bed

AXYS was not conceived simply to offer a new folding bunk bed, but to remove an architectural constraint that could previously limit its installation. Designed by Javier Cuñado (Nacar Design) for Sellex, the AXYS Folding Bunk Bed incorporates a folding system that allows the weight of the structure and its users to be transferred to the floor, rather than borne by the wall.

The result is a solution that broadens the installation possibilities of folding bunk beds, particularly in spaces with lightweight wall constructions, such as plasterboard walls, where conventional solutions may face limitations. Its name refers precisely to the axis of rotation around which this innovative system operates.

The new design joins the Sellex range alongside LA LITERAL, retaining one of the key advantages of folding beds and bunk beds: space optimisation. AXYS is also slightly shallower, allowing even better use of space in certain rooms.

A solution that relieves the wall of the load

AXYS's main innovation lies in its structural design. Unlike a conventional folding bunk bed, the system developed by Nacar Design transfers the weight of the bed frames and the people using them to the floor. The structure must be securely fixed to the wall to prevent it from tipping over, but the wall no longer bears the main load of the bunk bed.

This feature allows AXYS to be used in spaces where construction conditions could previously make installing a folding bunk bed difficult, giving architects and interior designers greater freedom when planning a project.

“The aim was to give designers greater freedom by offering a solution capable of working across a wide range of construction contexts,” explains Javier Cuñado, designer of the AXYS Folding Bunk Bed.

A bunk bed for multiple settings

The programme is available for 190 × 90 cm and 200 × 90 cm mattresses and is designed to adapt to different types of facilities. Its applications range from hotels and hostels to healthcare settings, where it can be used by both companions and healthcare professionals during overnight shifts.

It is also suitable for sports facilities and high-performance training centres, military bases, fire stations and police premises. As the mattress does not fold when the bunk bed is closed, AXYS can also be used in settings where longer-term use is required.

As its designer explains, the aim was not to design a bed for one specific setting, but to “create a platform capable of adapting to very different situations while always maintaining the same standards of safety, comfort and durability.”

The AXYS Folding Bunk Bed comes as standard with a safety bar and ladder. It also incorporates a safety latch together with magnetic catches and gas struts that ensure a smooth, controlled descent. It can also be configured with side covers and complemented with a shelf, power integration and lighting.

A discreet presence within the space

Beyond its technical features, AXYS is designed to integrate discreetly into the interior architecture. When closed, the bunk bed becomes part of the space itself, coexisting naturally with the other elements around it.

Cuñado's aim was to achieve “a calm, clean and timeless expression”, capable of adapting to both contract projects and residential environments.

AXYS therefore represents an evolution within Sellex's range of folding bunk beds. A solution that combines space optimisation, safety and comfort with a structural innovation that broadens the possibilities for architects and designers.

As its designer sums it up, “often, the best design is not the one that is most visible, but the one that removes a limitation that once seemed inevitable.”

About Sellex

Founded in San Sebastián in 1977, Sellex specialises in honest design furniture for public spaces. It collaborates with renowned designers to develop versatile, functional and durable solutions. With more than 3,000 installations, Sellex is present in over 40 countries and integrates eco-design into its development process. Its Beyond Design philosophy sees design as a timeless, technical and sustainable response to contemporary needs.

About Nacar Design

Nacar Design is a strategic design agency founded in Barcelona in 2006 by industrial designers Jaume Jané and Bern Donadeu. From the outset, the studio has adopted an international and multidisciplinary approach, working alongside companies and organisations to define, develop and deliver design solutions that address complex challenges. With the opening of its Bilbao office in 2022, Javier Cuñado (ITEMdesignworks) joined the team.