In the 100th anniversary of this British cultural icon, the traditional red rooms have acquired new functions to survive.
For many, the United Kingdom is synonymous with red buses, royalty and the Beatles, or the famous fish and chips. But over the years, one of the most iconic presences Traditional red telephone boothAlthough it fell into disuse in recent decades, it can still be seen today.
According to British Telecom (BT), the popularity of cell phones and smartphones has significantly reduced the number of telephone booths in the country. 3 thousand copies on its 100th anniversary.
But all is not lost. Thinking about preserving this historic landmark, BT launched a program in 2008 called Adopt a Kiosk (or “Adopt a Kiosk” in Portuguese) with 7,200 phone booths. “Adopted” by communities Donate just £1 (R$6.24) from across the United Kingdom
Kiosks can be adopted by local administrations and registered charities. “With more people using mobile phones and significant improvements in mobile coverage across the UK, we continue to see a big drop in the number of calls made from payphones,” he explained. Michael SmithProject responsibility at BT.
“With the iconic red kiosk turning 100, it's a great opportunity to remind local residents that they still want to buy a local kiosk for a pound. We've already seen some great kiosk conversions across the UK, which have become valuable community assets,” he added. Michael.
According to the BandNews website, these changes were due A series of births of new spaces, From defibrillator units and small museums, to libraries and mini art galleries.
Historical material
It will be 100 years from this year 2024 Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Its design was chosen as the UK's first red telephone box. Since then, they have become a cultural icon in the country and the world.
In 1990, the number of telephone boxes reached a peak, with around 100,000 units spread across the UK. However, even its historical importance was not enough to keep it on the streets, which led to a significant decline.
