Along Nygatan and Köpmangatan in Skellefteå, one can find one of the city's oldest wooden block quarters, where several activities have come to life in recent years. Here also stands a relic from a bygone era - a telephone booth that has now been given a new life as a book booth, thanks to an idea from Kristine Vaneryd.
Kristine was previously in a relationship with Nils Åsén, who once designed the telephone booth and now tells the story of how it all happened.
- The model for this book booth I found in Trosa, just a few months after Nils passed away. I think the telephone booth is beautifully located near Lilla Mari Café here in Skellefteå, and it feels fantastic that it can now be used in a new way, Kristine says.
Kristine contacted Skebo with her idea and received a positive response. She says it feels good to be able to share this with friends who knew Nils.
- He had worked for a company connected to Ericsson but was retired when I met him. Nils had been commissioned by Ericsson a long time ago to design an old telephone booth, one with an actual phone in it. He would have loved to see how this turned out, Kristine says.
The telephone booths were made in a limited edition of 100, and she has come across them all over Sweden.
For Kristine, the book booth is an important tribute to Nils and his love for words and literature.
- I think it's very important to read, and I hope we can also have children's books in the booth. Reading comprehension is very important, especially for children.
Kristine and Nils met at the City Festival in 2010 and quickly bonded.
- It was an instant connection! We fit so well together. It's almost a year since he passed away, and it still hurts to think about, Kristine shares.
Nils loved to read and write, and he had a special interest in puns and authorship.
- I'm convinced that the book booth would have suited him perfectly. He had a burning passion for the meaning of words, Kristine concludes.
Skebo has now filled the book booth with an initial load of books, and everyone is welcome to find their new favorite. Feel free to donate your favorite books so that someone else can enjoy some lovely summer reading.
Happy reading this summer!