50 years of the Orelhão: the iconic telephone booth designed by Chu Ming

payphone; brazil; 50 years; strong and resistant material; icon of the brazilian urban landscape; Chu Ming Silveira; architecture; national design

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

Just as London was never the same after its iconic red telephone boxes, Brazilian metropolises also made "big ears" the trademark of their cities. Innovative, practical, colorful and urban, the Orelhão has been part of Brazilian sidewalks for 50 years. This iconic egg-shaped telephone hood was designed by architect Chu Ming Silveira in 1971, who at the time headed the projects department of the Brazilian Telephone Company. (CTB). In the project, Silveira sought to prioritize acoustics , comfort , protection and user privacy inside the cabin.

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

Although the emergence of cell phones in 2010 led to a decline in the use of public telephones, the devices are still incorporated into the urban landscape of Brazil and other Latin American countries, as well as Africa and China .

A rugged, low-cost payphone

Chu Ming Silveira's concept emerged as a solution to the first public telephones that proved problematic due to the high construction cost and frequent vandalism .

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

This is because most of the external noise was reflected by the shape , while the sounds produced internally were directed towards the center of the radius of curvature, located just below the user's ear, minimizing interference in communication.

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

With these criteria in mind, the architect chose acrylic and fiberglass as the main materials to form a resistant cabin.

Little Ear, Big Ear and Shell

Although the Orelhão has become the most popular format, three designs were designed by the architect: the Orelhinha (for closed environments), the Orelhão (for open environments) and the Concha (for semi-open environments).

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

Formally named CHU I , in honor of the architect, but popularly known as Orelhinha, the smaller orange acrylic booth was Chu Ming's first model. From this model was created the Orelhão, formally named CHU II . Being more robust to withstand more unfavorable conditions, Payphones adapt perfectly to outdoor environments.

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

The Shells , on the other hand, had a more spherical shape and were mainly installed in gas stations. Some of them were even made to be transparent, in order to visually expand the space. The Orelhinhas and Conchas were fixed directly to the wall, while the Orelhões were attached to posts, allowing an arrangement with two or more devices with just one vertical support structure.

A rugged, low-cost payphone

Little Ear, Big Ear and Shell

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