Partitions of glass block let plenty of light through

Partitions of glass block let plenty of light through

Light pours through the glass blocks that fill all but the uppermost 15 inches of the bathroom's south-facing exterior wall. Two translucent partitions split the compact space into three alcoves--for the shower, two sinks, and a toilet. With the glass-block dividers just 4 inches thick, the plumbing fixtures all fit along one wall, cutting building costs.To avoid a sense of enclosure, the parallel partitions extent just 3 1/2 feet into the room and stop short of the ceiling, with the toilet baffle reaching 5 feet high, the shower wall 6 1/2 feet. Stairstepped blocks at the upper corners further reduce the sense of division. White walls, a generous mirror, and suspended cabinets below the sink also help make the space seem larger than it is.Customization is also the key to the company's recordkeeping success, vital to an operation with such a large and varied inventory. Thaw's daughter, Susan Thaw Winters, is vice president of operations and the architect of Bulbtronics' specially designed computer system. In addition to the usual accounting and inventory functions, the system cross-references every bulb by brand name, generic code and uses. Because of its extensive data on so many different suppliers' wares, several bulb makers have wanted to purchase the system, but Thaw's response is firm: She's not selling. "That information is part of the success of Bulbtronics--it's our 11 years of experience in the business,' says Thaw.Photo: Ribbed glass blocks form exterior wall, interior shower-stall wall, and partition between sinks and toilet. Stairstepped corners break up the dividers' massPhoto: Frances Thaw has made a specialty of finding just the right bulb for every lighting need through her Farmingdale, N.Y., company, Bulbtronics.An inch-thick layer of stucco covers mostof the plywood shell, but leaves the topmost 1/2 inch exposed. A 14-inch-square sheet of translucent acrylic, glued to the shell with silicone caulk, covers the top opening. The 3-inch-thick, 7 1/2-inch-square glass blocks mount to the acrylic with another layer of silicone caulk.

Photo: Ribbed glass blocks form exterior wall, interior shower-stall wall, and partition between sinks and toilet. Stairstepped corners break up the dividers' mass