The spectacular Leaf House was designed by Mareines + Patalano Arquitetura and is located in Angra dos Reis, close to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its unique design is said to be inspired by Brazil’s Indian architecture and was envisioned in a way that counteracts the humid and hot climate which characterizes the area. Stretching over a surface of 8,600 square feet, this original looking beach home is covered by a giant leaf-shaped roof that isolates the building: “The roof protects from the hot sun all the enclosed spaces of the house as the in-between open spaces, truly the most important ones. These in-between open spaces represent the essence of the design. They are the social areas, where the the owner of the house and his guests spend most of their time. The very generous heights of these spaces, which varies from 3 to 9 meters, allow the SE trade winds from the sea to pass perfectly longitudinally trough the building, providing natural ventilation and and passive cooling both to the enclosed and open spaces.
There are no corridors and inside and outside are almost fused. Many sliding doors, most glazed, open up the enclosed spaces and let the sea breeze in. The landscape is everywhere on the ground floor, and the curvy swimming pool snakes into the house. When it passes below the formal dining room, it turns into a pond with aquatic plants and fishes, reaching the rear “veranda”. This veranda is a resting space with five Brazil’s Indian’s style hammocks. Mareines + Patalano Arquitetura calls this space “ Brazilian lounge”. Do you find this design appealing or too unconventional?
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