hospitalitystyle.com

(2008 November December) posted on Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:22pm EST
Shower Power: Pump up the design volume in the bath with new fixtures that integrate light and color.

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When it comes to hotel bathrooms and spas, designers have already done it with mirrors. They've specified freestanding soaking tubs in fine porcelain and semiprecious stone. And they've found faucets with art nouveau curves and wafer-thin lines. What's left to impress guests who've seen it all?

Technology, particularly within the confines of the shower. The walls may be made of glass tiles and the door may be sandblasted for effect, but showers haven't been part of the revolution that's reshaped and repositioned bathtubs and sinks. But advances such as Jaclo's Dream Light Rain Canopy are changing that. Using LEDs, these ceiling-mounted fixtures invite designers to experiment with color, light and the interplay of both with a cascading stream of water.

For in-room applications, "Think of using the shower canopy as a water sculpture," says Larry Brodey, Jaclo president. Consider how different shapes will direct the eye and define the experience. Square and rectangular canopies rain down a column of colored light, an element that could easily be the bathroom's focal point if showcased behind a glass door. Round fixtures send a softer message with an immersive halo of illuminated water.

Explore how Technicolor effects work with the reflective and refractive qualities of the finishes in the shower. Matte tiles provide a velvety background to emphasize the drama of the light/color show, while glass, ceramic, polished stone or brushed metals generate a more dynamic aesthetic. Coordinate these hot shots of color with dimmable lighting or a few downlights in other areas of the bathroom to give guests control of the ambience.

Brodey says designers are exploring the visual impact of multiple installations in spas. Each canopy can be customized with fixed color combinations. So designers have the option of having the series cycle through white, warm white, blue, amber, red and green in tandem or sequentially.

They can also play with scale. Line up identical canopies for an ultra-modern spectral display. Or catch a wave(length) by alternating shapes and installing them at varying distances from the back wall. Either way, Brodey suggests working with chromatherapy experts to develop a concept that will be memorable and marketable.

He also advises designers to weigh the green factor before they write their specs. Optional flow regulators for the Dream Light Rain Canopy distribute an eco-friendly 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm). That's usually enough to score points for projects seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and with five-star guests. But Brodey cautions that some spa applications may require a faster flow. "If the hotel spa offers certain kinds of body wraps, the designer may have to spec a showerhead that produces as much as 3 gpm to make it easier to wash off substances like mud, clay and seaweed," he says.

LED technology is flush with opportunities for bathroom/spa design, and Brodey predicts manufacturers will be building that into a flood of inventive products. "People want something entirely different. It's all about the wow factor. Designers see that they can craft an atmosphere within the shower," he says. 

PRODUCT Dream Light Rain Canopy

COMPANY Jaclo, Cranford, N.J.

DESCRIPTION Shower canopies with LEDs set into the face of the fixture that shine colored light on the falling water.

POTENTIAL USES Shower installations in guest rooms, suites and spas

DETAILS OF NOTE Canopies are available as 16-inch round heads, 16-inch squares and 20-by-16-inch rectangles. All feature a full rain spray and fixed light intensity. The lights can be programmed to turn on manually with the flip of a switch or set to start automatically whenever the shower is turned on. Small, flush-mounted heads mean these canopies can work in both retrofits and new builds.