capsule

Avignon, France

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capsule

Avignon, France

Firm

studiobravo

Type

Residential › Apartment

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

3000 sqft - 5000 sqft

BUDGET

$50K - 100K

Capsule: a 28-square-meter apartment designed as a tiny home, where comfort meets space optimization. The residents purchased this studio, built in the 1990s, for its attractive location in the heart of Avignon (Vaucluse), just a stone’s throw from the Gard and Bouches-du-Rhône departments. Located on the third and top floor, the two windows overlook an alleyway whose proximity to the windowless façade of a theater prevents any views or comfortable natural light from entering. The angular layout of the space reinforces this sense of confinement. Yet the owners, inspired by the landscapes of the Verdon Gorges, fields of lavender, and the vivid shades of a multicolored scarf, dreamed of an open, spacious, and luminous interior. It is from this contrast between constraints and aspirations that the project emerged: to transform a confined space into a refined setting where every detail matters.

As is often the case in project design, the spatial layout of a space emerges from technical constraints. Here, the utility lines made it possible to divide the long existing volume, thereby creating two distinct spaces within this studio. The bedroom is situated at the far end of this layout, with the apartment’s two windows facing the living area. The connection between these two spaces is provided by a hallway featuring ample storage. The dark tones of the bedroom gradually lighten toward the living room. Indirect lighting reflecting off the slanted metal ceiling creates a gradual transition while accentuating a sense of depth.
The kitchen, divided into two sections—a work area and a storage area—fits naturally into this layout, serving as another step toward the light. It is part of a composition in which every element faces outward, while the bedroom, deliberately placed in the shadows, preserves privacy. At the heart of the design, the bathroom is treated as a luminous halo: luminescent tiles and colorful fixtures diffuse a soft glow, amplified by translucent glass bricks. An LED strip runs through the entire apartment, from the living room to the bedroom, passing through the bathroom. This feature compensates for the lack of natural light while unifying the spaces. The bathroom, treated as the utility area of this apartment, helps maintain this minimalist atmosphere without compromising the occupants’ comfort.
Inspired by the minimalism of Japanese interiors, the residents sought a space that was both functional and streamlined, maximizing the sense of openness. While the space is designed for daily use by two people, its layout allows it to accommodate up to four occupants. Custom storage units were built-in to minimize their visual impact. Thus, the bedroom’s wardrobe and raised platform blend into the partition, while the entryway’s built-in cabinets form a single unit with the bathroom. The kitchen’s cabinet fronts and countertop blend into the space by echoing the color of the resin flooring. They reinforce the visual unity against which the few movable pieces of furniture stand out. This suspended table, looking like a UFO, contributes to the ultra-modularity: a dining space for five people that can transform, when the time comes, into a dance floor.

Straddling functionality and poetry, Capsule breaks free from its walls by transforming 28 m² into a horizon of many shades.