London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Which colour would you paint London? Red, of course, Red double deckers, red mail boxes, red phone booths…

Let me tell you more about those.

The very first one was born in 1920 -  quite a horrible concrete thing named K1 for Kiosk1.

It was so little loved by the public a competition was called in 1924 for a better design. Giles Gilbert Scott won easily with traditional lines that would fit easily in the urban architecture. Go and see the wooden prototypes @ the Royal Academy of Art, at the entrance of the stone galeries.  The artist dreamt o f a silver version but the Post Office would not have it: red it would be, no used to be discreet, it is meant to be seen!  An opinion not necessarily shared, shocking in the British landscape! Compromises were agreed -  grey and black versions were painted to better integrate the view.

This cast iron version stille proves too expensive: comes the K3, same shape, concrete bases, cream coloured. Another fiasco, not many survived.

The K4 follows – a K2 with a postpox and stamp distributor included. Only 50 were fitted -  a pity, really.

K5 was meant to be a lighter version of the K2s, to be handled and dismantled @ exhibitions.

In 1935 -  what an adventure, hey! – a new one is again decided on to celebrate George V’s silver jubilee. Thousands of K6s were scattered accross the country. From a distance, you would think they are the same. But look closer, the K6 is smaller – K2s had been designed to accomodate the gentlemen’s top hats…

In 1952, Elisabeth II decides to change the crown symbolising her government from the Tutor to St Edward’s. Very symbolic as little differentiates them:

However, all K6 have to follow the new set and be fitted accordingly.

The crown on K2s was lovingly laced in metal – the K6′s is a mini sculpture: the best way to differentiate them! Scotland will prefer to add their very own crown.

There was a K7 and K8 – not much to say about them though. The General Post Office is later privatised, British Telecom steps in and decides on a cheaper, modern but ugly version, the KX100.

The adorable red booths are slowly disappearing -  time, wear, rust… takes their toll. However, they are plenty left to take great pictures of… or in! Not a tourist would resist posing in front of one, or holding the phone… always a huge smile on their lips. A retro touch that will add pink to your cheeks, stars in your eyes and raibows in your souvenir pics…

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