From the 1970s through the 1990s, various modular kiosk models such as the iconic K67 designed by Slovenian architect Saša J. Mächtig, alongside others like the Polish Kami, Macedonian KC190, and the Soviet ‘Bathyscaphe’ were ubiquitous across the ex-Eastern Bloc and former Yugoslav nations. These units were a common sight everywhere from lively urban centers to blocks of socialist housing, functioning as venues for selling hot dogs and Polish zapiekanka, farm eggs and rotisserie chickens, funeral bouquets, newspapers, managing car parks, handling currency exchanges, among other uses.
This photographic collection showcases over 150 kiosks, ranging from Ljubljana to Warsaw and from Belgrade to Berlin, capturing previously unrecorded images of these modernist structures that endured through the socio-political shifts in Central and Eastern Europe during the late 20th century. Some of these kiosks are still in use or have been renovated, while others have been deserted or have gradually disappeared from the city scenes. These photos, taken over the past ten years by Zupagrafika founders David Navarro and Martyna Sobecka, offer a rare glimpse into these unique architectures. The volume also features a preface by urban explorer Maciej Czarnecki and an introductory essay by architectural historian Anna Cymer, providing deep insights into the legacy of these transient buildings.