Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-04-01 / 8. szám
The House of Roses Affordable Housing Hungarian Style After World War I Countess Franciska Károlyi continued her social programs. Realizing that a one-time effort, such as the charity ball to aid the families of those drafted for service, was not enough, a welfare commission and consulting office was set up for the town of Főt, mainly to provide support for families, and to coordinate the different welfare programs already in existence. In 1922, under the Countess' leadership, a 100-bed hospital for infants was founded at Újpest, and was completed in 1929, the first such in Hungary. An even larger and more far-reaching undertaking initiated by Countess Károlyi was the establishment of a community of family houses for disabled war veterans, their widows and orphans. From their estate at Főt, not far north of Budapest, the Countess carved out close to 30 acres of land for an intended 150 houses, plus a school, a medical center and other common buildings. But even the wealth of the Károlyi family was not sufficient to meet the urgent needs created by World War I. Consequently, the Countess obtained official permission to begin a fund-raising campaign. It was surprisingly successful, and by 1922, the first 18 houses were dedicated and handed over to their new owners. The community received very little media attention, yet sponsors of individual houses included the emperor of Japan, Pope Pius XI, Lord Rothermere (the British newspaper baron), the king of Siam, and even Mussolini. Named "Suum cuique" (Latin for "To each his own"), the houses were simple, inexpensive and durable, and had to blend in with the surrounding community. They consisted of one room plus kitchen and pantry, because only such tiny houses were tax-exempt. They were made of adobe bricks, with a brick or concrete foundation. To enable the inhabitants to make a living, workshops for weaving, carpentry, basket weaving, industrial arts and sewing were also set up. Each house had a garden, which could produce enough vegetables for an average family. In addition to being a veteran (disabled or otherwise), a war widow or an adult war orphan, the applicant for a house in the "Suum cuique" community had to lead an upright moral life, show a willingness to work, and be loyal to the nation. In addition, the person had to provide proof of need, and have at least three dependent children. Those who received these houses were obligated to keep them in order and whitewash them annually, to send their children to school, and to work their gardens. Those who did not abide by these requirements were subject to various degrees of censure, ranging from private admonition to eviction. Families paid off the 25- year interest-free mortgage on these houses (cost: 3, 300 Pengős) at the rate of 10-12 pengős per month. At the time of the Depression, many were unable to keep up with even these minimal payments. Despite every effort to integrate the inhabitants of “Suum cuique” into the surrounding Főt community, the townspeople continued to regard them suspiciously as vagrants, as they came from all parts of the country to take advantage of the benefits provided. Only 95 of the planned 150 houses were completed by the early 1940's. Even so, Countess Károlyi was way The church designed by Károly Kós ahead of her time in providing humane living conditions and jobs for the poor, as well as aid for the disabled. When I was a child, we spent every summer in Zebegény, first renting a room in the village, then in our own house, designed by my Dad. We would pass the "Kék falu" on our way into the village. The author with Anna Gabula Aiso on the way was the home of Géza Maróti, renowned designer and sculptor. In Zebegény, artists formed a colony around the painter István Szőnyi (1894-1960), who chose scenes from Zebegény life for his canvases. Anna Gabula, who last saw me when I was six and a half, and when I met her again 50 years later, she stunned me by saying, "Te vagy a Papp Erika!" (In front of the church designed by the famous Transylvanian architect and writer Károly Kós.) Her father owned the boathouse where our rowboat spent every winter. The boathouse was burnt down by the retreating Germans in 1944. "Gabula bácsi" was among the 111 villagers who were taken away by the Russians. He never returned. Page 8 Napraforgó ’s house
