The K5 was an attempt to incorporate the Gilbert Scott design into a kiosk for countrywide temporary installation. Similar in style to the K3 but featuring even less in the way of architectural detailing, the design still maintained the domed roof of her predecessors.
The K5 Kiosk was intended to be used as a temporary kiosk at exhibitions and fairs and instead of the cast-iron of the K2 and K4 and the concrete of the K1 and K3, the kiosk was constructed of metal-faced plywood. The design also made less use of glass than its predecessors to reduce weight, expense and potential damage during transportation.
Introduced in 1934, it would prove to be even more scarce than the K4. The example illustrated in the photograph is a modern reconstruction based on original plans as no known original kiosk exists. This is because it was produced in small numbers and as a temporary kiosk it was not substantial or robust enough to survive to the present day.
> Photograph of Kiosk No 5 (Links to Images page)
The K6 was commissioned in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. The design of the "Jubilee Kiosk" needed to the first, true, universal kiosk, and one which didn't repeat any of the mistakes of the earlier kiosks. Again the Post Office commissioned Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to design the new kiosk.
The K6 was similar to his design for the K2, but was smaller and had simpler detailing. This would make it cheaper to produce, and therefore easier to site across the country. The design was still unmistakably a Gilbert Scott design and would be a success.
It appeared in 1936, followed by a more vandal-proof Mk II version in 1939 and by 1960 some 60,000 examples existed. The Post Office allowed rural examples to be painted in different colours including green, yellow, white and battleship grey. Red was chosen to make the kiosk stand out against its surroundings in case of an emergency telephone call.
> Photograph of Kiosk No 6 (Links to Images page)
Tke K7 - planned in 1958 - resulted from the commission of three designs from Neville Conder, Misha Black and Jack Howe, all of which used aluminium in construction. Of these, the design chosen by the Post Office was that by Neville Conder. Neville Conder worked with Hugh Casson on the design of the Elephant House at London Zoo.
There can be no starker comparison between the K6 and the final design for the K7. It was an innovative design in its use of materials and six prototypes were produced in aluminium; these were installed in 1962. However the British climate caused discolouration and staining of the aluminium so the design didn't prove successful.
Also around half a dozen cast-iron versions were produced and installed; some of the aluminium and cast-iron prototypes were in service for some twenty years. Ultimately, however, few examples of this type were introduced to the streets of Britain.
> Photograph of Kiosk No 7 (Links to Images page)
The K8 was designed as a modern kiosk, appropriate for new towns, stronger and more vandal-proof. The K8, designed by Bruce Martin, was introduced in 1968. The K8 kiosk was prefabricated so it could be installed in any configuration with the door, side and back panels placed in any position.
The K8 can be seen as a modern interpretation of the Giles Gilbert Scott design. Elements have been reinterpreted - the domed roof, the rectangular telephone sign about the door, the horizontal separation between the main body of the kiosk, the use of glass.
It proved more of a success than the K7, not a great challenge admittedly, but some 11,000 examples were introduced. The K8 would be the last design for a telephone kiosk under Post Office ownership. Modern designs produced for British Telecom owe more design influence to an accountant, rather than any other of the Telephone Kiosk designs.
> Photograph of Kiosk No 8 (Links to Images page)
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