The flower-shaped house opens its petals

Brazil is the country of samba and carnivals; but above all, of wild beauty. Flowers from the street to the catwalks, from the jungle to the balconies of the houses… And now too, their roots become the foundations of a house that grows on the beach of Angra dos Reis and opens its petals to the rhythm of the bossa nova

Although the House of Leaves seems to be the daughter of nature due to its flowery outline, it is actually the work and grace of the architects of Mareines + Patalano. The indigenous buildings of their land germinated the seed of ingenuity and, shortly after, the sketch of a residence that combines luxury, nature and recycled materials sprouted in their plans, in an attempt to create a home capable of blending in with its surroundings. without losing a pistil of originality and to counteract the humid climate and high temperatures that constantly plagues the Brazilian lands. For this reason, it has the latest advances in eco-efficient technology, such as a rainwater recycling system used in gardening and sanitary services, which adapts centimeter by centimeter to the aesthetics of the structure. Although they have also resorted to classic techniques, such as making the most of all the open spaces where the breeze circulated better to build, generating a natural aeration system that helps to contrast the intense heat and pressure.

Seen from the sky, the house looks like a large, six-petaled, greyish-brown flower. His parents sought to design an original but not shocking structure, which would not leave anyone indifferent but would not destroy the environment. Proof of this is that its internal frame is made of wood, and that the same material forms the cornerstone on which the decoration has been designed. The stairs, the walls, the framework of beams and columns through which creeping plants crawl or the parquet on the porch dotted with leafy palm trees, like fountains of emerald leaves. Everyone contributes their grain of sand to build a house that is nourished by nature and manages to merge into one of the largest green lungs on the planet.

Its spacious rooms are spread over two floors. Many of them are missing walls or have been replaced by large windows, so that they become terraces that open to the outside, favoring the capture of natural light and architectural experiments. One of the best examples is the room whose floor was partially flooded at the edges, giving the sensation of finding ourselves before an oval island with two armchairs, a small refuge where we can isolate ourselves from the world and immerse ourselves in a fast-paced adventure novel. Or hang hundreds of hammocks in the lower courtyards and sway lazily counting the petals that form the roof of the house. Until we fall asleep in this oasis, with the sound of the waves and the breeze whispering a lullaby.