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If you have spent enough time exploring Copenhagen, you might have been lucky enough to stumble upon one of the old phone kiosks. Seeing one of these historical marvels in the wild is becoming increasingly rare, as more and more are removed from their original locations over time. So, I invite you to take a step back in time with me and celebrate the charm of this beautiful piece of Danish history.
In 1896, when the first kiosks were built, it was uncommon to own a phone. Therefore, being able to make a call was quite a luxury. Every kiosk was operated by a woman who not only managed the telephone but also sold items such as newspapers, and theatre tickets and received urgent messages to be delivered by bicycle messengers.
The first kiosks were designed by architect Fritz Koch and were shaped like hexagons. After Koch's passing, new, larger designs were created by Martin Jensen in 1913 in the shape of an octagon. I decided to make a LEGO set based on Koch's designs because more were made in this style, and I prefer the smaller and unique shape. Koch's design featured a triangular flèche with a clock on every side, resting on a copper roof adorned with cast iron ornaments displaying two astrological signs on each side. Unfortunately, the scale of this cast iron detailing is too small for me to recreate with LEGO bricks. I'm therefore curious to see if the LEGO designers can manage to include this detail if they were to make this a real LEGO set. This iconic structure was supported by a granite base and pinewood window frames, resembling elements from Danish architecture around the year 1900.
This set includes:
- The original phone kiosk in LEGO form, based on Koch's iconic design.
- One candlestick telephone, a type of phone common at the time the kiosks were built. In reality, these kiosks contained two phones, but I could not find a way to include another in this design.
- Stickers based on advertisements from the 1930s, as during this time, most kiosks were plastered with them. I replicated stickers from some of the kiosks that still stand, featuring businesses that no longer exist. If this set were to become a real LEGO set, it would be the perfect occasion for many awesome LEGO Easter eggs!
- A phone booth operator, wearing traditional Danish clothes from the 1800s. This is not entirely historically accurate, as the operators of these kiosks were mostly dressed in black, but I chose a more iconic option to celebrate Danish history.
Why did I build it?
I was intrigued by the purpose of these little buildings when I first explored Copenhagen. After learning that many of them have been destroyed, I wanted to do something to ensure these wonderful structures aren't lost to time. I also love the idea of a smaller, architecture-centric LEGO set that would fit into a LEGO city. Its smaller scale makes it easy to justify purchasing as a display model or an addition to liven up a LEGO city.
I believe this set would be a great addition to the collections of fans of architecture, Danish history, and LEGO. If you also think this set would liven up your LEGO city, I would greatly appreciate your support!
Help your fellow builder by leaving your feedback based on these three criteria:
- Originality: How original is this - never seen before?
- Building Techniques: How much skill do you think the creator of this MOC has, in terms of building technique?
- Details: Express how much you like the details of the build.
Your feedback is only shown to the creator as well as yourself. It is not available for other users to see. The creator won't see your user name.