Lost Kiosks: A Visual Journey Through Forgotten Urban Icons
Discover the Hidden History of Abandoned Kiosks – A Photographic Journey Through Urban Decay, Architecture, and Cultural Memory.
The city of Zagreb, where I live, is the capital of Croatia. From 1945 to 1990, it was part of socialist Yugoslavia. Although I wouldn’t want to go back to that time, there is something I find very interesting about it – the architecture, old retro things, and of course, kiosks with their unique charm.
Kiosks from that era were more than just small shops. They were an important part of the city, little social hubs where people stopped daily to buy newspapers, cigarettes, chewing gum, or small household items. Every neighborhood had its own kiosk, recognizable by its unique shape, color, and design, often reflecting the modernist architectural trends of the time.
Here, I am sharing my photo collection of kiosks that I found while looking through my older photos. Since I didn’t have a camera back then, I took all these pictures with my iPhone 8 and 11.
Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoy this nostalgic look at kiosks from the past.
If you're interested in stories like this, I recommend checking out the photo report from the Zagreb Fair (The 80s in Focus: A Photographic Adventure), as well as the story about socialist architecture, which resonated strongly with readers and was boosted on Medium (Concrete Dreams: Photo Journey Through Socialist Architecture).
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About the Author: I am a passionate photographer and a philosopher of both photography and life, a TEDx speaker, a Master of Molecular Biology, and a product manager. I curate two newsletters: Lens Chronicles, where I explore the intersections of photography, travel, and philosophy, and Thoughtful Corner, where I share ideas, reflections, and insights for curious minds. Thank you for taking the time to enjoy my work.
Great! Brings back memories. I grew up in the Soviet Union in the sixties and seventies, and those types of kiosks were everywhere.
Those are amazing!! What a cool subject too. You are lucky to have an expansive experience, Davor.