Historical Phonebooths: A New Use Case as Working Spaces on the Street

For the past couple of months everyone is talking about the new way of working spaces, come back to office approach or hybrid work options.

Recently I cam across to a startup called SPOD. ( www.spod.today ) their innovative way of thinking the new flexible on the go working spaces could solve a problem.

In the age of the internet and smartphones, it may seem like the humble phone booth has become a thing of the past. But in recent years, these once-ubiquitous structures have been finding a new life as working spaces on the street.

The first telephone booths were introduced in the United States in the late 19th century, and they quickly became a common sight in cities and towns across the country. With the advent of the cell phone, however, the need for public payphones dwindled, and phone booths began to disappear from our streets and sidewalks.

But as the trend towards remote work and digital nomadism has grown in recent years, so too has the demand for quiet, private spaces where people can focus and get things done. And that’s where historical phone booths come in.

These small, enclosed structures provide a sense of privacy and isolation that is hard to come by in a busy city. They offer a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life, making them an ideal place to work or take a phone call.

In some cities, entrepreneurs have repurposed old phone booths as mini-offices, complete with desks, chairs, and outlets for laptops and other devices. These “phone booth offices” can be rented by the hour or the day, offering a convenient and affordable option for those looking to get some work done while on the go.

But it’s not just freelancers and digital nomads who are making use of these little oases of calm. Companies and organizations are also getting in on the action, using phone booths as temporary meeting spaces or as a way to give employees a break from the distractions of the office.

Of course, not every phone booth is suitable for repurposing as a working space. But for those that are, the possibilities are endless. So the next time you see an old phone booth on the street, don’t just walk by — stop and take a closer look. Who knows — it might just be the perfect place to get some work done.