K8 Telephone Kiosk

K8 Telephone Kiosk

This is a telephone kiosk designed by Bruce Martin and introduced in 1968. It is constructed from six cast iron parts and an aluminium door. The door and two sides feature large rectangular sheets of toughened glass set in frames with rounded corners. The fourth side is a cast iron back panel. The kiosk has a square plan with a flat roof dome glazed with toughened glass on four sides, using round-cornered rectangular panes bearing the word "TELEPHONE" on a white background. The kiosk is painted red.

The K8 was designed following a competition held by the General Post Office in 1965. Bruce Martin (born 1917) studied engineering at the University of Hong Kong before qualifying in architecture at the Architectural Association. He joined the Hertfordshire County Council architectural department and was jointly responsible for the "Hertfordshire experiment", a progressive building scheme for primary schools.

In response to the GPO's brief for an easily re-assembled kiosk, the design featured interchangeable components, unlike its predecessor, Giles Gilbert Scott's iconic K6. The requirement that it be easy to maintain over a lifespan of at least 50 years was met through the use of cast iron and toughened glass. The K8 represented the next generation of red telephone boxes. It offered an unfussy contemporary approach with clean lines and curves that avoided the explicit neo-classical references of Scott's designs. While taking a fresh approach, its dimensions and appearance were respectful of its lineage.

The K8 was manufactured by the Lion Foundry and first installed in July 1968. By 1984, 11,000 had been introduced onto the United Kingdom's streets, after which the majority were replaced by the KX100.