PAPERHOUSE

Known as the Paperhouse, this structure was conceived in London by designer Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio as a replacement to the typical plain rectangular newspaper kiosks.

Though it resembles a pine cone, this Paperhouse structure answers several beautification and usage issues. For example, the previous paper stands were ugly and plain when shut at night, and also lent themselves to graffiti. Furthermore, they required the shop keeper to set up and take down the booth at night. The Paperhouse design by Thomas Heatherwick assists both those former issues.

The new kiosk has a distinctive, stepping-outward form – the result of a more ergonomic arrangement of magazine shelves which also makes the outside a less obvious target for vandalism. The uppermost roof sections are made of toughened glass, so that light comes into the kiosk by day and shines out of it by night. Instead of a heavy roller shutter which has to be lifted, the kiosks open by rotating the front sections out around the structure.