It’s so great that you’ve managed to take this project on.
I really love the idea of a place to sell small artworks, with an honesty box approach. I’m sceptical that people won’t nick the contents, but you never know, and perhaps it’s worth a try. I’ve posted about this over on Fab Forest Hill on Facebook, asking people to add their ideas here or there, so hopefully that might generate a few more suggestions.
The only commenter there thus far thinks an art gallery is the way forward.
Would it be worth approaching the artists on Havelock Walk to see if they want to get involved, perhaps on a rotating basis, as a means of highlighting their own work?
And did anything come of the person who indicated they had had some responsibility for the little free library that BT locked off on Devonshire Road? I’m sure I read something somewhere from somebody who’d seen the poster that was put up on that particular telephone box.
I also love the seasonal themes. Regarding the gallery ideas it could have days where it’s used as a pop up space for local creatives & makers - that way people are there with their items to lessen the theft point above? London road has good footfall and it would make it an interactive community point. I don’t know where the rules stand around people selling things from them. Forest Hill Society could do the same - a day where it’s a stall about Forest Hill History with all the old photos inside and someone to chat about it could be nice - like a stationary version of the great walking tours. But yes maybe a situation where it has days where it can be used as a pop up space for other locals with good ideas could be a lovely community use. This one got me thinking of it Red telephone box transformed into charming flower shop in Twickenham | Local News | News | Twickenham Nub News | by Charlie Speed
Unless attended I can’t see any way you could safely leave the box unlocked. The Crystal Palace one is locked, but you can see artworks inside, you would scan a QR code or copy / photo contact details if wanting to contact the artist.
I went round there for a sight viewing, based on the position of the booth, would be keen to see if we are allowed to use the lamp pole or the unused gate behind it to an a3 seater chair (there is one up for £25 but need revamping on the FB group).
@jonfrewin I was the one who mentioned the booth on Devonshire Road but I think it’s now used as a library
As per artist, Havelock is great, you might was to consider Sydenham/Forest Hill and Dulwich Artists trail with over 400 artists.
For the possibility or a donation pod, Horniman Museum use a contactless tap system also attached in the images.
There are a couple of cafes as restaurants that might be willing to so some street food day in conjunction with the phone booth (just a thought)
Good luck with what is decided and happy to support one a decision has been made
What would be lovely is a well restored and maintained original phone box. Sadly we don’t get much in the way of tourist footfall through the area, but one thing London ironically lacks is clean, original, red telephone boxes for that perfect tourist snap.
Ah, the street piano. There were actually two of them and I thought they were wonderful, although we did get a few complaints from local residents woken by drunken chopsticks very late at night! And they do get broken quicker than normal wear and tear would predict - particularly the stools/chairs which had to be replaced quite often.
The layout at the station now means it might be harder to install a piano in the same place as it gets more use by pedestrians and cycle parking. But if people wanted a piano back it would be worth consider if there are other locations or a way to bring it back to the station.
Back on the topic of the phone box, I wonder if an toy library might be possible? Right outside Gambardo, people would be able to bring small toys that they no longer want for others to borrow for as long as they want. There is a large gap in access to toys across the community.
In these 30°C days we all appreciate a bit of shade.
As this phone box isn’t hemmed in by buildings like many others, perhaps we could put a canopy inspired by the existing roof on it. It could provide shelter from both the sun and the rain, while being designed to complement the original kiosk (and tasteful enough to satisfy the planners).
I love this. Here’s a brain dump, without having given much thought to logistics (and some of which overlap with other people’s suggestions)…
A seed and plant cutting library/exchange
A local history museum - old photos, maps, stories and residents’ memories
A “Good News” box celebrating local people, groups and businesses
Seasonal transformations - rather than giving it one permanent purpose, the phone box could reinvent itself every few weeks
The People’s Gallery - each month a different resident gets the phone box as their gallery. A child one month, a retired photographer the next, then a local illustrator…
A partnership with Early Hours (the Honor Oak florists and absolute queens of seasonal installations)
A “One Thing I Love About SE23” project, with residents contributing their answers for display
Anything visual and participatory that gives the community a shared goal and a story. Something that people look forward to each year/month/quarter and that becomes part of SE23’s identity.
It would; but in the meantime there’s a swap library in a phone box round the corner in Devonshire Road. There’s also one on the top of Westwood Park, near the junction with Horniman Drive.
Another possibility for the phone box on London Road, is to display an architect’s model of Forest Hill Town Centre reimagined and regenerated as we would like it.
