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One-way vision shower screens: Crown Towers Barangaroo, Sydney
A lack of existing solutions for unidirectional shower screens results in Australian first for innovation in glass at Crown Towers Barangaroo. Specialised PVB interlayers and sputter coated silver glass come together through custom laminating to deliver mirror-finish shower screens for one of the world's most iconic hotels.
Crown Sydney is a high-end luxury hotel rising amongst some of Sydney’s best restaurants and bars. Visible from almost anywhere in the city, it’s Sydney’s fourth-tallest building at over 270 metres and contains 75 floors of luxury residences, apartments, infinity pools and entertainment.
Designed by WilkinsonEyre the striking form of the towers takes inspiration from nature and an elegant, curved geometry with three petals that twist and rise together. The sculptural shape of the towers maximises the opportunity for accommodation to make the most of the views of Sydney's famous bridge and harbour. Central to the design of the hotel is the idea that it should be a sculptural form contrasting with the more orthogonal geometry of the tall buildings in the central business district.
This brief goes far beyond the standard bathroom and shower design. The core requirement was a one-way glass that would allow privacy, maximise the spectacular views offered by the 75 floors, and remain fully compliant and suitable for a wet environment.
Engaging global partnerships to deliver an Australian first
Achieving a unidirectional vision system for a high moisture environment was a complex process, and was led by Cooling Bros Director Vince Bianchini. ‘We faced major challenges in the design phase. Firstly, despite a global search, we couldn’t find a benchmark project from which to model, where an interlayer and glass system had been used for a similar application. So we took the opportunity to research, test and prototype, working closely with Crown to develop a one-way shower screen. Our global partnerships played a huge role in achieving the innovative and technically sound solution.'
Eastman representative in Australia, and Director of Australasian Laminate Process & Applications, Geoff Rankin, advised on the Eastman interlayer. He confirmed the Saflex PVB interlayer used in the application decisively met all rigidity and adhesion requirements, containing glass shards at high and low temperatures, both after impact and under load.
The 31% external silver-toned reflection presents a sleek, mirrored look, while a lower 25% warm-coloured internal reflection allowed occupants to take in Sydney’s spectacular skyline while remaining inside the shower space.
Unidirectional functionality: Sputter coated glass and custom laminates
The glass specified is renowned for its peerless performance and visual impact. ‘Cooling Bros. Silver Grey is a toughenable sputter-coated glass with excellent chemical and mechanical durability,’ Vince notes. ‘Its single-layer coating is easier to process, minimising the risk of distortion and offering a flat, uniform finish.’
Cooling Bros. innovative response to the lighting conditions has created an unusual and visually stunning one-way mirror effect. ‘To those outside the shower, the 31% external silver-toned reflection presents a sleek, mirrored look,’ Vince notes. ‘Also, the lower 25% warm-coloured internal reflection allowed occupants to take in Sydney’s spectacular skyline while remaining inside the shower space.’
"Cooling Brothers eagerness to take on projects of daunting complexity is refreshing and rewarding, and is consistently backed up by professionalism, manufacturing precision and installation prowess. On a high spec, high pressure project you can't ask for much more than that."
PAUL COLLIS
Crown Towers Barangaroo Project Manager
