First forget the tub in the shower honestly why would you want to wipe th tub down everytime you have a shower . IMO the glass is still the best option and it is safety glass so tell hubby to relax .A curbless shower really requires the whole room to be watr proof and IMo requires a door on the shower for sure and I really cannot think of an alternative but there some great minds here so i look forward to seeing what can be done.

Pony walls with glass above. Glass block. Designed to have no door

Safety glass can still shatter into a gazillion pieces. It happened to a resident in an independent condo community where I was a wellness nurse. She lurched off-balance and knocked the shower glass with her bathroom cup (some type of ceramic mug) and it exploded into pieces. Scared her and her cat, but they were not injured. I think about that when I see "age in place" bathrooms with lots of glass and either no weight bearing grab bars at all (door handles are not weight bearing) or grab bars in places that ironically put one off balance in order to use them.

We have glass block and I love it. Probably not in vogue but ....

Rekha, what type of glass block? We were thinking about using them, but had second thoughts due to so much negative commentary.

Clear glass block will maximize the natural light in the shower. You can also get translucent if you're concerned about privacy. If it were me I would go with clear block and no door.

Is there a sealer/coating for glass bocks? Our current frameless glass shower enclosure has a coating which has prevented all water spots for >5 years. I certainly wouldn’t want water spots on glass blocks. Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions.

I am not sure what kind, it came with the house constructed over 20 years ago. I am sure they have come a long way..when we redo the bathroom, I am planning on using glass blocks again.

Here's a link to an article about glass block from a company that specializes in innovative bathroom remodelling products. (I've been researching shower and bath remodelling stuff for ages now and the big pin site's algorithms often offer me this company's blog articles. I have no experience with the company but from what I've read, they seem to understand how to build a fuss-free bathroom. Wish I could find a local builder with this mindset but I digress.)

Fwiw, I've never gotten the disdain for glass blocks. They've always looked cool to me but then again I'm drawn to all sorts of styles and architectural features from every decade and don't buy into the idea of getting rid of things that work simply because they're no longer "in style". It's a mindset that breeds waste. We're going with a shower curtain in our remodel. Easiest upkeep for me. Next owners can install a glass door or panel if they want.

@tartanmeup thanks for your nice comments! I write this blog (and if I'm being perfectly honest - we sell both glass blocks and clear glass shower systems). I love both systems - as long as they're designed correctly. One of the cool things about glass blocks is they can be designed with multiple patterns and sizes.

However, one of the things which is an obvious drawback to glass blocks is they don't 'open' (like a hinged shower door) or move side to side (like a sliding shower door). Glass blocks - because they also are mostly supplied in patterns don't show spotting - which is a nice benefit of this material.

I'll include links below to over 45 articles (some on glass block showers and others on glass shower doors) which will shed more light on both systems - I hope these articles help (and this post has motivated me to write an article which compares these 2 systems! - thanks - Mike)

articles about glass block showers

7 Secrets about Glass Block Shower Walls Your Contractor Doesn't Want you to Know

articles about glass shower doors

Actually, I am considering adding half wall to the shower and eventually a stand alone tub against the same wall on opposite side. I have added handles to the shower walls for safety reasons.

@Momof5x - the stand alone tubs are a stylish option for bathrooms now! For the 'handles' - look for ones which look stylish so you'll get the safety you want without detracting from the looks of the space

Mike @ Innovative- Thank you for the links to additional information on glass blocks. Also, Thank You - to everyone who responded to my question. The HOUZZ community is amazing! This has helped me - I believe glass blocks in an open shower (no door) are in our future