The original wooden prototype for the now iconic K2 red telephone box, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, Burlington House, London

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The Original Red Telephone Box: The K2 telephone kiosk was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott for a limited competition organised in 1924 by the RFAC, as they attempted to find a replacement for the unsatisfactory concrete K1. All of the competition entries were made up in wood, this photograph shows the actual wooden prototype that stood before the judging council in 1924. Originally designed to be silver with a blue interior, this was to expensive and the now icon red box was installed throughout London from 1926 onwards. The design itself is said to be based on Sir John Soans, self designed mausoleum, Scott was in fact an admirer of Sir John Soane's and trustee of his Museum. The box stands at the gates of the courtyard of the Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London

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Size: 3825px × 5100px
Location: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, UK
Photo credit: © Nigel Watts / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1924, academy, box, building, burlington, gilbert, giles, house, icon, john, k2, kiosk, listed, london, piccadilly, prototype, red, rfac, royal, scott, sir, soans, telephone, tourism, uk, wooden