New ‘Sink-Urinal’ Saves Water, Encourages Dudes to Wash Their Hands

I'm not sure if this new "sink-urinal" is a good thing or just kind of weird. This new design was concocted by Latvian designer Kaspars Jursons in an attempt to solving European water shortages. His new urinal design includes a tap and sink right over it.

"It's not just a fancy piece of art," Jursons says. "The idea is about function and consumption. You are washing your hands in the sink on top of the urinal, and the same water that's running is also used to flush. You don't have to use water twice, like when you use the urinal and wash your hands in separate sink."

Kind of ingenius now that I think of it!

The design, called The Stand, sells for about $590 per unit. However, production is limited as of now.

Also, the tap is hands-free and sensor-activated and Jursons says that having the sink right over the urinal gives it another handy feature: an in-your-face reminder to wash your hands.

When asked whether guys might find the sink and the urinal a little too close for comfort, Jursons says, "It is more suitable for hygiene than just a urinal and then guys who don't wash [their] hands."

Personally, I could see these in high-end hotels. My local watering hole, not so much.

[NPR]