Lappek

Story

Lappek — named after the Lapp Kabel cable company — is the electrical engineering dwarf of Wroclaw Polytechnic. He lives outside Building D-20 of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at ul. Janiszewskiego 8, forever pushing a giant cable drum as though the entire power supply of the campus depends on his efforts. Students swear that touching Lappek before an exam brings good luck, which has made him the most stroked and lovingly worn dwarf at the university — his head and drum particularly shiny from years of affectionate superstition.

History & Significance

Lappek was unveiled in May 2011, commissioned by the Lapp Kabel company as a mascot for Wroclaw University of Technology's Faculty of Electrical Engineering. He was installed at building D-20 on ul. Janiszewskiego 8 (part of pl. Grunwaldzki). The name is a wordplay: 'Lapp' from the sponsoring company, and '-ek' — a diminutive suffix that makes him endearingly small. His design pushes a cable drum, directly referencing the cable and wiring business of his sponsor.

Inspiration

Lapp Kabel is a global manufacturer of cables, connectors, and wiring — products that flow through every building the Faculty of Electrical Engineering trains students to design and build. Gifting a dwarf to the faculty that uses your products is a delightfully practical piece of long-term brand building. Lappek makes the connection between industry and academia visible, fun, and just a little bit magical.

Fun Facts

• Students at Wroclaw Polytechnic believe that touching Lappek before an exam guarantees exam success — making his drum and head the shiniest parts of any dwarf in Wroclaw.
• His name combines 'Lapp' (from Lapp Kabel, the sponsoring company) with the Polish diminutive suffix '-ek'.
• Lappek was unveiled in May 2011, coinciding with the approach of the university's summer exam session — perfect timing for a luck-bringing mascot.
• The cable drum he pushes is a direct reference to Lapp Kabel's core product line.
• Wroclaw Polytechnic has several dwarfs on its campus, but Lappek is the one most sought out by anxious students in the days before finals.

How to Find This Dwarf

Lappek is on the Polytechnic campus at ul. Zygmunta Janiszewskiego 8 (building D-20), close to pl. Grunwaldzki. Tram lines 2, 10, and 17 serve pl. Grunwaldzki — alight there and walk west along the campus promenade. The building D-20 is signposted on campus. The dwarf stands on the pavement just outside the building entrance.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Wheelchair AccessibleGround LevelOutdoor

Lappek stands on flat campus pavement outside building D-20. The university campus is generally accessible, with paved paths throughout.