This document compares and contrasts the Leaf House in Brazil and the Nautilus House in Mexico. The Leaf House is constructed of wood and natural materials, while the Nautilus House uses ferrocement. The Leaf House's structure neutralizes the local climate, whereas the Nautilus House is earthquake-proof. Both houses include common spaces, but the Leaf House has additional areas like a pool and dock. Overall, the document expresses a preference for the Leaf House due to its eco-friendly materials, ventilation, and leisure spaces.

1. Name
: PANG KAI YUN
Id
: 0319802
Module
: English 1
Session
: August, 2014
Question Number
: 2

2. Pre-writing
Technique : Clustering
Thesis statement :
The Leaf House to The Nautilus House
Type of material
The Leaf House is build with
wooden material
The Nautilus House is made
by using Ferro cement
construction
The Leaf House is using nature
material to build, but the
Nautilus house use man made
version of rock
Layout and structure
The structure of the Leaf
House is built to neutralize the
hot and humid weather of the
area it is built in.
The structure of the Nautilus
House is earthquake-proof
and maintenance-free.
The Leaf House is build
because of the weather but
the Nautilus House is build
because of the natural disaster
The usage of space
The Leaf House consist of living
room, dining room, bathroom,
kitchen, massage room,
bedroom and closet, movie
room, barbeque (fireplace),
storage room, swimming pool,
pond and private dock for a boat
The Nautilus consist of Living
room, dining room, kitchen,
laundry room, television room,
study room, bedroom and
closet and bathrooms
The Leaf House does not have
study room and laundry room
however the Nautilus does not
have storage room, barbeque
(fireplace), massage room,
swimming pool, pond and
private dock for a boat
When I compare the two houses, I prefer the Leaf House more
than the Nautilus House because of the type of material, layout
and structure and the usage of space.

3. The Leaf House to the Nautilus House
In this 21st century, the houses that we live are not just a square or a
rectangle box. Design a house you want to live in is not a dream anymore. You can
live in a house with any kind of design and shape that you want such as shoe,
basket, triangle, circle and anything you want to live in. I found that there are two
unique houses in the world that are very beautiful and I want to live in. The two
houses are the Leaf house in Angra dos Reis, Brazil and the Nautilus house in
Mexico City, Mexico.When I compare the two houses, I prefer the Leaf House more
than the Nautilus House because of the type of material, layout and structure and the
usage of space.
First, the types of material used to build the Leaf House and the Nautilus
House are different. The type of material used by the Leaf House is nature material,
but the Nautilus House is using man made version of rock. The Leaf House was
designed by Mareines + Patalano Arquitetur and the entire house is built with
wooden material. The giant leaf-shaped roof is made of laminated reforested wood.
It can capture rain water via/ the central steel column to be reused in gardening and
flushing toilet. (Artboom.com, 2011) Moreover, the house’s stone tiles are made with
stone from the original site. (Baker, J., 2013) The use of all these natural materials,
created a very desirable reality. (Lavinia, 2011) In contrast, The Nautilus House was
designed by Javier Senosiain of Arquitectura Organica and the house is made by
using Ferro cement construction. Ferro cement construction is a technique involving
a frame of steel-reinforced chicken wire with a special two-inch-thick composite of
concrete spread over it, resulting in a structure that's earthquake-proof and

4. maintenance-free. (Geekologie.com, 2008) When comparing the type of material for
both houses, I prefer the Leaf House than the Nautilus House because I prefer eco-friendly
material.
Besides that, the layout and structure of the Leaf House and the Nautilus
House are also different as both houses are located in a different area. The Leaf
House is located at the shores, but the Nautilus is located in the city. The layout and
structure of the Leaf House are inspired by Brazil’s Indian architecture and was
envisioned in a way that counteracts the humid and hot climate which characterizes
the area. (Lavinia, 2011) It is built with a perfect ventilation system to encourage
natural breezes for cooling. Meanwhile, the layout and structure of the Nautilus
house are inspired by the sea and taking on the twisting and turning form of the
Nautilus shell. (Trendir.com, 2009) It is earthquake-proof and maintenance-free.The
reasons that affect the different type of layout and structure for both houses are
different. The layout and structure of the Leaf House are affected by weather and the
layout and structure of the Nautilus House are affected by natural disaster.
Lastly, the usage of space for both houses is similar in many ways but still
have something different. The Leaf House that covers 8600 square feet consist of a
living room, dining room, bathroom, kitchen, massage room, bedroom and closet,
movie room, barbeque (fireplace) and storage room. Furthermore, there are a curvy
swimming pool and a pond with aquatic plants and fishes outside the house. It also
has its own private dock for a boat. (Nssmag.com, 2012) Same as the Leaf House,
the Nautilus House consist of living room, dining room, bathroom, bedroom and

5. closet and kitchen. On the other hand, the Nautilus house also features laundry room,
study room and television room. The difference of the usage of space between the
two houses are the Leaf House does not have study room and laundry room,
however the Nautilus does not have a storage room, barbeque (fireplace), massage
room, swimming pool, pond and a private dock for a boat.
In conclusion, I prefer the Leaf House than the Nautilus house because of the
type of material, layout and structure and the usage of space. The Leaf House is
built with eco-friendly material and it is built with the perfect ventilation system. It is a
house that is suitable to build in my country, Malaysia, because of the same weather
as Angra dos Reis, Brazil, where the Leaf House is built. The Leaf House also has
its own swimming pool and a private dock for a boat. I think both the Leaf House and
the Nautilus House have its own unique and both are also very beautiful houses that
everyone dreams of.
(762 words)

6. Reference
1. Lavinia. (2011, June). Inspired by Nature: Stunning Leaf House in Brazil.
freshhome - Design & Architecture Magazine.
Retrieved from : http://freshome.com/2011/06/04/inspired-by-nature-stunning-
leaf-house-in-brazil/
Accessed date : 21 Sept 2014
2. Artboom.com. (2011, June). Mareines+Patalano Architects – Leaf House.
Retrieved from :
http://artboom.info/architecture/mareinespatalano-architects-
leaf-house.html
Accessed date : 21 Sept 2014
3. Baker, J. (2013, August). Brazil's Leaf House: A Beach Home for Hot, Humid
Climates (PHOTOS). The Weather Channel.
Retrieved from :
http://uk.weather.com/story/news/brazils-leaf-house-beach-
home-hot-humid-climates-photos-20130828
Accessed date : 21 Sept 2014
4. Geekologie.com. (2008, February). Seashell House Is Unbelievably Awesome.
Retrieved from :
http://www.geekologie.com/2008/02/seashell-house-is-unbelievably.
php
Accessed date : 21 Sept 2014
5. Trendir.com. (2009, June). Whimsical House – Nautilus House in Mexico City
Retrieved from :
http://www.trendir.com/house-design/whimsical-house-nautilus-
house-in-mexico-city.html
Accessed date : 21 Sept 2014
6. Nssmag.com. (2012, April). LEAF HOUSE - ANGRA DOS REIS, BRAZIL.
Retrieved from :
http://www.nssmag.com/art-design/3005/leaf-house--angra-dos-
reis-brazil
Accessed date : 21 Sept 2014

7. Photos
The Leaf House
The Nautilus House