A red London telephone box has been playfully reimagined into a children’s library kiosk. The project titled The Upper Street Little Library is the result of a joint collaboration between William Tyndale Primary School and Dominic McKenzie Architects (DMA), who transformed the derelict phone box outside the Islington primary school.
This particular telephone box has been somewhat of an eyesore for many years. It had gradually begun to lean over due to a large London Plane tree, passers-by made use of it as a quick toilet stop from a drunken night out, and its interior was covered in graffiti. The architecture firm took charge of the phone box transformation and worked closely with the local community, who charitably chipped in with their time and effort. Now, what stands is a whimsical little alcove displaying a variety of children's picture books and novels.
The Upper Street Little Library in a London telephone box
The phone box itself is an original K2 ‘kiosk’ which was designed by architect Giles Gilbert Scott in 1924. This means that they are classed as listed buildings, which DMA had to strategically plan around.
The little library is designed to compliment the original phone box structure. New shelves match the grid of the previously existing windows, and the exterior was repainted the globally iconic London telephone box red.
DMA did make some alterations, such as tilting the building back to its original vertical position, removing all modern internal fittings, and replacing scratched acrylic panes with glass. The shelves are free-standing and joined together in an L shape. LED lighting is decorated to illuminate the displayed books, creating a cute reading nook, especially in the shorter winter months.
Further detailing included matching the shelves and flooring to William Tyndale School’s school colour, creating an inviting contrast and cosy beacon to encourage reading to the wider community.
-
Rétromobile revisits some of the icons of car design, along with their modern descendantsWe tour the halls of Rétromobile Paris 2025 and take in remastered automotive classics, futuristic record-breakers and mighty monographs
-
Designer Danny Kaplan’s Manhattan showroom is also his apartment: the live-work space reimaginedDanny Kaplan’s Manhattan apartment is an extension of his new showroom, itself laid out like a home; he invites us in, including a first look at his private quarters
-
Ulla Johnson’s collaboration with artist Julie Hamisky on the A/W 2025 runway is blooming lovelyUlla Johnson and French artist Julie Hamisky have created 12 new jewellery pieces for the designer's A/W 2025 runway
-
Inside Powerhouse: The redevelopment of Lots Road Power Station, which once fuelled the London UndergroundThe twin-turreted building has followed in the footsteps of Battersea Power Station, being transformed into luxury homes and retail units
-
Sadler’s Wells East opens: ‘grand, unassuming and beautifully utilitarian’Sadler’s Wells East by O’Donnell and Tuomey opens this week, showing off its angular brick forms in London
-
2025 Serpentine Pavilion: this year's architect, Marina Tabassum, explains her designThe 2025 Serpentine Pavilion design by Marina Tabassum is unveiled; the Bangladeshi architect talks to us about the commission, vision, and the notion of time
-
We celebrate the emerging London architects to be excited aboutThese emerging London architects are some of the capital's finest ground-breakers, movers and shakers; heralding a new generation of architecture
-
From a mobile pub to a thatched canopy: Japanese architecture and craft explored at AA show in London'Distillation of Architecture', a new AA show in London, pairs architects with materials and makers in an exploration of craft through the Japanese lens
-
This revamped east London terraced house is a music lover’s dreamAn east London terraced house gets a boost of personality and sustainability thanks to Archmongers, whose transformation makes room for the owners’ creativity and extensive record collection
-
This elegant infill project slots beautifully into the London streetscapeIn this infill project, a row of garages in Blackheath, south-east London, has been replaced by a contemporary family home by local practice Mailen Design
-
Don’t Move, Improve 2025: the 14 London homes adding design oomph to the everydayThe shortlist for Don’t Move, Improve 2025 has been announced, revealing 14 residential projects across London that add value and pizazz to their inhabitants’ daily lives
