Is a shower possible in front of an exterior wall made of glass blocks?

Hello everyone,

we have bought an apartment and now want to redesign the bathroom. We would like a walk-in shower, which also fits perfectly within the width of the room. The only problem is that a large part of the wall consists of [Glasbausteinen]. I know that [Glasbausteine] provide extremely poor insulation and therefore are a thermal bridge. Do you know if it is still possible to place the shower directly in front of the stones so that they get wet? Is there a high risk of mold? Unfortunately, the room only has continuous ventilation and no possibility to open the windows. Installing a flap in the [Glasbausteine] is not possible due to fire protection reasons.

Looking forward to your information, thanks!

I suspect people will really recoil in winter when they bump into the glass blocks before the water is hot. The joints between the glass blocks could probably be waterproofed somehow. You will most likely be quite an oddity with a shower directly behind glass blocks and will have to wait a while for someone to share their experience, if at all. At least after that, you will know exactly which neighbors are peeping toms and which walkers are morally thin-skinned

Personal hygiene as an administrative offense - something new ...

Possibly true, but simply nonsense under today's energy efficiency classes, as even newer glass blocks are an extreme thermal bridge. And mold is predestined, as the blocks are ideal for condensation due to the cold bridge...

So better stay away from...

And mold is predestined, since the building blocks are ideal for condensation due to the thermal bridge...

Basically, I think so too, but: as I read it, the room is already currently used as a "bathroom," only the shower is positioned differently. Do you see the change from "only water vapor" to "also splash water" as dramatic there?

Basically, I think so too, but: as I read it, the room already serves the function of a "bathroom," only the shower is currently positioned differently. Do you see the change from "just steam" to "also splash water" as dramatic?

Yes, think of a normal wet room. Mold already forms in the regular grout between tiles.

Here we're talking about glass blocks, which are super cold in winter. Mold seems to build up there a thousand times faster. I would say any sanitary professional would immediately reject turning it into a wet room at all...

And I don't see impregnating it as such a problem, but keeping it clean and the mold formation would probably be extremely annoying after two years and not worth the "window effect"...

but keeping it clean and the mold formation is probably extremely annoying after two years and not worth the "window effect"...

As I said, as I read it,
- the glass blocks are already there
and
- the room is already a bathroom,

so my question specifically referred to how much more disturbing effects you expect than before just because the shower now moves closer to the glass blocks.

What cannot be read from the original post (is the OP still around?) is: whether the shower is only to be relocated or if there is none currently (in bathtub bathrooms the steam effect may be weaker), and how far the shower or tub is now located.