Litfaßsäule advertising columns in Berlin

Vienna. Wikipedia photo.


In an interview in the Financial Times with the Berlin-based artist Wolfgang Tillmans, there was a brief mention of Litfaßsäule, described as "... the Berlin advertising columns that were once ubiquitous acoss the city but which are now gradually being dismantled."

-- Wikipedia page, translated from the German

It turns out that these kiosks were created in the 1850s out of the idea that they would help regularize the presentation and distribution of this kind of information, then mostly advertising, not community initiated information, rather than have it be plastered all over willy-nilly.

Later, cities like Paris and Vienna adopted the practice, and it served as the foundation of  organized"outdoor advertising."

The practice continues today in various street furniture programs across the globe.  Companies like JCDecaux (France), Cemusa (Spain), and Adshel bid for bus transit shelter contracts in return for being able to place advertising in the shelters, on separate kiosks, etc.


Street advertising kiosk in Montreal.  

Montreal has a mix of modern types like this, and the more traditional Berlin/Paris style round kiosk.

I have written about these kinds of kiosks as elements of community media and neighborhood communications, having first been introduced to similar kiosks in Ann Arbor.  Other cities have them.  Most do not.  In the latter places, utility poles and other infrastructure suffice.

-- "Why not post outdoor Community Information Boards at public buildings and sites?," 2018

Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood


DC


In going through Flickr, I came across this image c. 1899, showing a different approach, with the art nouveau style.


This Flickr user has taken photos of such kiosks that obstruct sidewalks in her community.