THE CHALLENGE
Small bathrooms often force a compromise: do you choose a bathtub for occasional relaxation, or a shower for daily efficiency? I wanted to explore whether both could coexist in a minimal footprint—without permanently sacrificing valuable floor space.
THE CONCEPT
“Capsul” is a conceptual exploration of a space-saving bathroom module that combines three functions—sink, shower, and bathtub—into one flexible unit.
The core idea:
a swivel cabin with a sink on the outer side, and an inner element that slides out on a cradle to extend into a bathtub when needed. When not in use, the bathtub retracts, freeing up floor space.
Key features:
• Only one function is active at a time (shower OR bath OR sink), unless the cabin is positioned to allow dual access
• Sink with mirror is always accessible on the cabin’s exterior
• Compact footprint designed for small apartments or secondary bathrooms
PROCESS & CONTEXT
This project was developed for an internal design competition at Kolpa d.d., as part of my studies at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana.
It was primarily a conceptual exercise—focused on spatial thinking, user scenarios, and mechanical feasibility—rather than a production-ready solution. While the mechanism (sliding tub on a cradle) presents real-world engineering challenges, the project helped me explore modular design, user-centered problem solving, and the balance between ambition and practicality.
MENTORS
Prof. Saša J. Mächtig Doc. Barbara Prinčič
KEY LEARNING
This project taught me to ask: “Does this idea solve a real need, or is it just clever?” It reinforced that good design isn’t just about innovation—it’s about understanding constraints, user behavior, and when a concept is ready for production… and when it’s a valuable learning step along the way.
