The opening mechanism is one of the most important decisions in a glass shower enclosure. A wall hinge and a pivot system can both look minimal, but they move differently, transfer load differently and need different clearances around the door.
Wall hinges
A wall hinge transfers the door load into the wall-side fixing area. The hinge positions, glass size, substrate and finished wall must be compatible. The door sweep and seals are then planned around the hinge line and the fixed panel.
Pivot systems
A pivot door rotates around a designed pivot point, which may be at the wall or within the floor and header arrangement depending on the system. The door swing and clearances can be different from a wall-hinged door, so the room should be drawn with the actual hardware rather than a generic opening arc.
The clearance is part of the design
Check the door against the basin, toilet, towel rail, wall, bath and the person entering the shower. A beautiful door that opens into a tap or blocks the bathroom passage is not a successful design.
Do not choose from appearance alone
Confirm permitted glass thickness, door size, weight, adjustment, seals, finish care and replacement parts for the selected hardware. A hinge that looks similar to another product may have different engineering limits.
Final measurement still matters
The mechanism can be selected during design, but the final opening should be measured after the relevant finishes are complete. Wall plumb, floor level and tile thickness affect both the door and the seals.
Read about why a heavy shower door needs more than extra hinges, or see why shower glass is measured after finishes.