See through showers

Custom Home, March, 2003 by Shelley D. Hutchins

"A glass shower must be meticulously and minimally executed," explains Aspen, Colo.-based architect David Gibson. "Normal materials can have connectors and frames, but all that goes away and every detail is revealed with glass." Glass is a sanitary and nonporous surface, conducive to hygienic wet areas like bathrooms, but it also possesses aesthetic and illuminating qualities. The following master baths showcase glass showers that enhance the illusion of spaciousness by allowing light and views to play throughout the room.

Fair Tile

Not many showers are completely covered in semi-transparent, hand-cut glass tile or feature a cathedral ceiling like the one in this Longport, N.J., master bath. Seamless glass doors let the iridescent tile work shine through. "These tiles are very unforgiving. The grout has to be delicate and clean," says architect Joe Berkowitz. "Both application and finish have to be immaculate." The 8-foot-by-6-foot enclosure surrounds bathers with body sprays and showerheads. A built-in bench, covered in the same octagonal, black porcelain tile as the shower floor, extends across the rear wall and 2 feet beyond to create both wet and dry sitting areas. A 5-foot recessed niche just above the bench houses soaps, shampoos, and decorative objects. Builder: Rabena Brothers/Malvern Development Group, Malvern, Pa.; Architect/Designer: Joseph A. Berkowitz Interiors, Penn Valley, Pa.; Tile specialist: Boris Olevsky, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Resources: Glass tile: Oceanside Glasstile, Circle 492. Photographer: Halkin Photography.

View Master

The owners of this Telluride, Colo., home can revel in their mountain views from every single room, including the bath. "When you're in this shower, you're thrust into the outdoor experience," says architect David Gibson. Two walls of 10-foot-tall steel window systems offer a panorama of Wilson Peak, while insulated and tempered low-E glass protects bathers from brisk mountain chills. The trimless, hinged shower door is barely distinguishable from its tempered-glass surround, and its transparency allows anyone in the room to enjoy the view. A 5-foot overhang beyond the steel windows protects the sprawling glass, and for less adventurous souls, a privacy blind inserted in its soffit can be operated from an interior switch. Travertine encases the rest of the 5-foot-by-8-foot shower, and a teak bench--discreetly bolted to window muntins--floats above the floor. Builder: Casey Smith and Co., Custom Builders, Telluride, Colo.; Architect: Gibson Architects, Aspen, Colo.; Lighting designer: Robert Singer & Associates, Aspen; Interior designer: Kathleen Pokigo, Emerald Hills, Calif. Resources: Lighting: Cooper Lighting, Circle 493. Photographer: Paul Bardagjy.

Masterpiece In Glass

The 28-foot-long-by-10-foot-wide dimensions of this bath posed a renovation challenge for architect Christopher D. Macneal, AIA, beyond the fact that I.M. Pei designed the three-story Philadelphia row house. Adding a three-dimensional aspect to the design, the 5-foot 6-inch square glass shower for two keeps sight lines flowing and increases the perception of space. The shower's nickel-plated steel framing echoes "the cubist look that was the organizing device of the room," Macneal says, as does a glass mural that extends along the room's entire length.

Its etched, back-painted, and mirrored glass reflects light and enhances spaciousness while masking hinge-paneled storage in the slim room. Macneal credits builder Allen Powell with making the mural happen by finding ways to impeccably connect the glass panels. Builder/cabinetmaker: Allen Powell, Philadelphia; Architect: Kieran Timberlake Associates, Philadelphia. Photographer: Halkin Photography.

Window Magic

This Texas master bath welcomes nature and light from various angles with a selective use of glass. Three 8-foot-tall panes around the shower bounce light from clerestory windows into the room and allow views of trees and Horseshoe Bay to be enjoyed throughout the space. The glass panels stop short of the walls and ceiling and "work together to make a structural form" notes architect Rick Archer. "No details, no frames, and no doors." Careful placement of the twin showerheads contains the spray. The 12-foot ceiling drops above the vanity to form a cozy alcove and contrast with the exposed, sweeping shower. In order to "create a seamless composition throughout the house" Archer speced matching materials in the bath, such as Burlington stone on benches and countertops, poured-raw-concrete walls and floors, and dark-cherry cabinets and wall panels. Practical as well as beautiful, the materials are easy to clean and maintain. Builder: Henry Duecker Construction, Johnson City, Texas; Architect: Overland Partners Architects, San Antonio. Resources: Bathtub: Kohler, Circle 494; Faucets: Delta, Circle 495; Showerheads: Speakman, Circle 496; Tile: American Olean, Circle 497. Photographer: Paul Bardagjy.