Former phone booths in Germany are gaining a second life thanks to citizens' creativity. Although there were over 160,000 of them in the 1990s, Deutsche Telekom now plans to remove the last remaining units. Instead of being scrapped, these distinctive booths are being converted into libraries, clothing exchange cabinets, and even garden showers. Many cities, such as Dresden and Cologne, are promoting these eco-friendly solutions in the spirit of the circular economy.

End of the public phone era

Deutsche Telekom plans to soon remove the last remaining units from German cities, concluding a process that has lasted for decades.

Innovative upcycling

Instead of being melted down, booths are becoming libraries, clothing exchange cabinets, and garden showers, serving local communities.

Local initiatives

In Dresden, over a dozen book exchange points have been created, while in Cologne, booths serve as free exchange points for household items.

The German urban landscape is undergoing a significant change as Deutsche Telekom announces the dismantling of the last phone booths. However, not all structures will end up as scrap metal. Across Germany, there is a growing trend of adapting these objects to new, social functions. The most popular solution is creating public book exchanges. For example, in Dresden and its surroundings alone, there are already over a dozen, facilitating book swaps among residents and promoting reading. In Cologne, one booth has become a so-called Tauszbox, a point for exchanging material goods. Neighbors can leave unused household items or clothing there, giving them a chance to find new owners. More unusual projects include transforming booths into garden showers, greenhouses, and even egg-selling points, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the national operator. The mass dismantling of phone booths began in Europe with the widespread adoption of mobile phones in the early 21st century, which made public payphones unprofitable and rarely used. This transformation is part of a broader upcycling trend aimed at reducing waste and preserving symbols of past technology in a modern form. Although these nostalgic objects from the 1990s are disappearing from the streets as communication points, their sturdy enclosures prove ideal for protecting books from rain or creating small trading spots. On the Baltic Sea coast, former booths even serve practical functions for tourists, showing that local communities' creativity knows no bounds in saving relics of the past from oblivion.160,000 — phone booths operated in Germany in the 1990s.Libraries: 12, Exchange Cabinets: 4, Other Functions: 3 „Instead of disposal, many booths are gaining a second life as private showers, greenhouses, or even egg-selling points.” — Deutsche Telekom Spokesperson