Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s K2 Telephone Kiosk — A Design Classic

Abstract

ABSTRACT The red telephone kiosk or box has become synonymous with Britain, standing as an icon of national identity. Yet, of all the versions of kiosk that have been introduced, only two have achieved this exalted status. This paper explores how the telephone box evolved within the UK, details the circumstances that led to an architect becoming involved in their development, and describes how Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s design was transformed into Britain’s K2 kiosk, the first of the iconic red telephone boxes. Thereafter the paper considers issues of kiosk deployment, explains why few K2s can be found outside London and concludes with a description of the onward development of the K2 and its eventual replacement by a second Scott design, the K6. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s K2 kiosk forms an important part of Industrial Heritage for it not only enabled the growth of public telephones in London but also established the humble telephone box as a thing of utility combined with beauty.