Rug or Chaise? BUDDE and Nando Studio Say, Why Not Both

While rugs have their place, typically underfoot, who’s to say they can’t rise up to meet us in entirely new ways? That’s the thinking behind DUNE, a sculptural collaboration between German design studio BUDDE and Cologne-based Nando Studio. Debuting at Milan Design Week at Galleria Rossana Orlandi, DUNE reimagines the traditional rug as a fully functional chaise lounge, inviting users to recline and reflect on how design can redefine the boundaries of conventional typologies.

Drawing from the flowing landscapes of nomadic desert cultures, DUNE pays homage to the rug’s cultural significance as a gathering space and resting place. “The pattern mimics the flowing dunes of a desert landscape, with a warm, shifting color palette that reflects the subtle changes in sunlight along the sand dunes,” shares designer Johannes Budde. The result is a visual rhythm that’s been immortalized in tufted merino wool – both tactile and expressive.

At first glance, the surface of DUNE appears soft and sculptural. But beneath that inviting form lies a story of precision and adaptability. Gun-tufted by Nando Studio in Cologne, the rug is supported by a bent aluminum frame that can be easily attached or removed beneath either side. This gives users the freedom to enjoy DUNE as a traditional rug or transform it into a chaise lounge when the mood strikes. Whether used for lounging, gathering, or simply as a centerpiece, that kind of adaptability – innovative yet demure and inconspicuous – redefines what we can expect from a rug, inviting new rituals for rest and relaxation.

L-R: Ferdinando Colosimo of Nando Studio and Meike Papenfuss + Johannes Budde of BUDDE

DUNE is exclusively represented by Galleria Rossana Orlando – for more information, visit rossanaorlandi.com. Custom pieces are available upon request, allowing for personalization while preserving the piece’s nomadic, desert-inspired spirit. To learn more, visit budde.co.

Photography by Saskia Kinast.