Smart shower corners - The next big trend in bathrooms?
Like many other technical and innovative ideas that the Japanese come up with, the Japanese were early here as well. However, it was not with smart shower corners but public toilets this time.
In the fall of 2020, new public toilets suddenly appeared in several places in Tokyo, including at Yoyogi park. It was the architect Shigeru Ban who was given a free hand in designing two of the new public toilets. He chose the daring option of transparent glass as walls. When you need to meet your needs, you go in and turn the lock to change the glass to frosted so you can neither see in nor out.
This proved to the outside world that glass that can be frosted on demand has many interesting uses. In addition to public toilets, you can also use them in office premises, in conservatories or in the shower.
Tint the glass on request!
The label "smart" is stamped on just about anything these days if it is only possible to connect the product to the internet. In this case, it is perfectly possible to use the glasses with only one switch on the wall. Extra good for those who are a little skeptical about connecting the home. For the more adventurous, there are many variants with connection options!
One type of smart glass works by sending an electric shock into the substances that sit between two sheets of glass. The electric shock “charges up” the substance, which changes from a transparent state to a frosted one. A bit like a battery that charges up and then stays charged for a longer time. The glasses work in a similar way, which means that they can theoretically lose their charge after a while and the frosting subsides. However, this is easily solved by turning it off and turning it on again to "recharge".
smart shower corners can be frosted on request and provide extra privacy for the showerer
Smart shower corners in the bathroom
Putting in electrical appliances and furnishings in the bathroom comes with some requirements in the form of IP classification. Since the shower corners must be in wet room zone 1, this also applies to the highest degree.
However, the place where smart glasses can do the most good is probably in the shower. Especially in larger bathrooms where family members go in and out, they can contribute to a little more privacy. Just like in the public toilets in Tokyo, you can see through the glass if no one is in there. It can also be an idea for those who have large windows facing the neighbor in the shower. Just tint the windows if necessary so no one can peek!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGoKsv2omBU Watch the video of Tokyo's public toilets with transparent glass. Would you have dared to relieve yourself in such a toilet? The toilets are designed by Shigeru Ban under the Tokyo Toilet project.
The future of smart shower corners
At the moment, the technology is still quite expensive and may not be quite reasonable for most consumers. As with everything else, it will probably change over time and more and more people will have the opportunity to install smart shower corners in their bathrooms.
As style and design in bathrooms will continue to develop towards the larger and with more focus on spa-like experiences, the need for privacy will also increase. It goes without saying, if we start spending more time in the bathroom, the need to be able to come and go even when it is occupied will become greater. Then it is almost required that we can divide the bathroom without spoiling the overall impression. It is important, both from a hygienic point of view, but also purely aesthetically to have open surfaces in the bathroom.
Personally, I also believe that smart glass can facilitate the choice of a shower corner for many. Today I talk to a lot of people where half want clear glass and the other half want frosted. Now there will soon be the opportunity to make both parties happy with their purchase of a shower corner!