The leaf design helps deflect the sun in this hot, humid climate. (Image: Mareines + Patalano Arquitetura)

The shores of Angra dos Reis, Brazil, about an hour south of Rio de Janeiro, are a tropical paradise lined by gorgeous beaches and warm waters of the southern Atlantic.

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Here in this sultry paradise you'll find the . Mareines + Patalano say the design was inspired by weather conditions, as well as a desire to "enhance the interaction between man and nature."

The roof was designed as a big leaf specifically to protect the common areas from the hot sun. The high ceilings, along with an open floor plan, leverage the southeast trade winds, so they blow off the ocean through the house as natural ventilation.

The home also captures and recycles rainwater. A steel column on the roof collects rain and then reuses it for gardening as well as flushing toilets.

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The designers also relied heavily on natural construction material. The home's stone tiles were made with stone from the original site. The wood you'll find on the roof and throughout the house came from either local forests or were recycled from an old electrical post.

Mareines + Patalano Archicture shared photos of their Angra dos Reis Leaf House with weather.com. You can check them out in our slideshow above.

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