Photos

This picture was taken in the 11th district of Budapest (Kelenfold) in a state subsidized housing complex. The buildings were made quickly from prefabricated concrete elements (panels) in the late 1970's. Similar complexes were built everywhere in the Soviet satellite countries based on technology developed in the Soviet Union. They helped to solve the housing crises created by the war and rapid industrialization, but they developed a reputation of poor workmanship and lack of maintenance. In 1981, when this picture was taken, they were considered to be modern and a desirable place to live. The yellow bus seen in the picture is a Hungarian made Ikarus bus, a subject of pride of Hungarians, because it was exported everywhere in Soviet block countries.