When I first saw the word Lottóház on a building on the corner of Ferenc Korut and Üllői út , I was curious. I asked around. Someone told that this was the site of the old Killián Kaszárnya (Killian barracks) that had been razed in 1956 during the October Revolution. They went on to tell me that when the current block of flats was built on the site of the barracks, people were too superstitious to buy them so the state decided to raffle them off. That way, people were buying lottery tickets and not the flats, per se. I’ve been happily repeating this story each time I have visitors and we walk up to Corvin Negyed to catch the tram. I can’t for the life of me remember who told me. Perhaps I read it somewhere. Or perhaps I’ve made it all up.
This weekend, out and out with the lovely MI, we walked up Fő utca and she pointed out another Lottóház – one of three I now know of built in Budapest, the third being over on Múzeum Korut.
Apparently, back between 1958 and 1968, this was quite a trend in Budapest – building flats and then raffling them off in a sweepstake. Funded by the National Lottery, these building were quickly built – often ready in just 12 months – to replace those damaged in the war. Imagine living in an apartment block full of winners – I wonder what that would do for your outlook on life …
6 Responses
Hey, Mary!
There are 2 more I know about – one of them you also pass by many times, on the corner of Ulloi and Ferenc korut, next to the Iparmuveszeti Muzeum, overlooking that little concrete square. This is a shorter building (about 3-4 floors) with shops (I believe it’s a Sony&Panasonic superstore, at least a few years back it was) on its street level.
The other is Frankel Leo u. 84.
yes, the one next to the Iparmuveszeti is what was Killian Barracks – the one that has Lottohaz written on it. Didn’t know about Frankel Leo – will look for that one! Thanks Eva
As far as I remember it has “OTTOHAZ” on the front – the letter “L” was stolen :-)))) making it look like it was named after some guy named Otto.
dear Eva,
Do you know the architect of the Frankel Leó út? Did you went in?
I’m trying to gather information about these.
Thanks!
Sven
dear Sven,
no, I have no idea unfortunately, and I haven’t been inside either.
I have a friend though who works for the municipality’s urban planning department, an architect herself – I’ll ask her next time and post here if I find any more infos. Google didn’t help in this case 🙁
bye
Eva
Eva, köszönöm, would be great!