Several years after hitting the market for the first time, the iconic Ipswich bubble house appears to be a concrete shell of its former self - providing an out-of-this-world opportunity for buyers looking for a unique property in a booming growth corridor.
The bubble house was a thesis, then a dream, then a home. Graham Birchall was still a student when he first sketched the idea: a house built entirely from circles.
Brisbane's iconic Bubble House is heading to auction on 15 August. Picture: realestate.com.au
It was 1983 and the concept was little more than an architecture thesis — a study in how spheres might shelter a life.
Mr Birchall built the home at 79 Elanora Way, Karalee himself — a structure made from 11 intersecting circular domes ranging from 4m to 8m in diameter. Remarkably, he did it without modern computer software to handle the complex calculations of the design, which spans three levels.
The home has seen better days with vegetation taking over the roof. Picture: realestate.com.au
The entrance appears through a circular tunnel into a choice of reception rooms and a kitchen with curved benches, leading to a 'sports bar' and tiered media room in one direction, a terrace and golf tee in the other — overlooking the sweeping grounds and river.
Up a circular staircase (of course), the second level offers an additional sitting room, a dedicated library, a master bedroom with ensuite and dressing room, and two further bedrooms.
The basement level houses a four-car garage and workshop.
Quirky features abound: shutters modelled, with NASA's blessing, on the iris of a Mars rover's camera; a fireplace that punches up through two storeys of curved concrete; and an internal water-cooling fountain that doubles as the home's air conditioning system.
This house was a genuine labour of love. Then, in 2020, the Birchalls quietly listed it for sale.
But it didn't sell, and now it's back on the market again — older, quieter, and, by the look of it, considerably worse for wear.
Carpet has been removed and wiring lies tangled on the floor. Picture: realestate.com.au
Somewhere between the dream and the latest "for sale" sign, the bubble seems to have burst.
The home appears to have been empty for some time, with dusty shelving, ripped up carpet and vegetation growing on the roof. It looks tired, forlorn and a shadow of what it once was.
But no less fascinating, it seems.
At its first open home, 160 groups came through, says agent Rodney Rapmund at Image Realty Ipswich.
The Ipswich region has boomed in value in recent years. Picture: realestate.com.au
Some were filming social videos, others bringing their children through for a peak.
"People are astounded by the way it's designed, the way it looks, and say it would have been very nice in its day. The architectural piece of that house is like, wow, there's obviously a lot of thought gone into it."
Among them, though, were serious buyers — some looking to fix it up, others looking to knock it down.
"A couple of people there who were looking at it as a home. There were others saying at the right prices, let's put a bulldozer through it," Mr Rapmund said.
The home went viral for its unique circular design. Picture: realestate.com.au
Set on an enormous 5,109sqm stretching to the riverbank in the rural outer suburb of Ipswich, just under an hour west of Brisbane, the block itself is appealing — even if the home no longer is.
Despite its state, Mr Rapmund believes it would be a shame if the bubbles were crushed.
"It's a magical house, and a real landmark in this area. It would be a tragedy if someone bought it and knocked it down."
The huge riverfront block is drawing in strong interest from a range of buyers. Picture: realestate.com.au
The bubble house goes to auction on Saturday 15 August. There is no guide price, though the median price of houses in Karalee sits at around $1.3m.
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