Artist couple's hand-built mud-brick home hits $2 million asking price
Chris and Frances Fussell hand-built a 7500-brick mud home over seven years; it now lists for $2 million.
In the late 1960s, Sydney artist couple Chris and Frances Fussell were cramped in a tiny Elizabeth Bay flat and dreamed of space. Chris and Frances Fussell bought a 25-acre lot in Pokolbin for $4950.
Over the next seven years, they hand-built their own earth-walled home filled with handmade tiles, recycled doors, copper and mosaics. The house, known locally as Crowtrap, was built from 7500 handmade mud bricks and a $250 salami paddle mixer.
The design came from a trip to Morocco, where they felt a casbah cool down 25 degrees inside while it was 50 outside. The thick mud brick walls lock out summer heat and hold winter warmth.
It took four-and-a-half years to make the bricks and another three years to stick them together. Crowtrap is now listed at $2 million to $2.2 million.
- $4950
- Land cost
- 7500
- Mud bricks used
- Seven years
- Building time
- $2 million to $2.2 million
- Current asking price
Why it mattersA rare example of hand-built sustainable design from the 1970s showing how creativity and patience can create lasting homes that work with climate.
