SB 2k17

​Panama

Panama is somehow off the radar for architecture students in my opinion. I picked it as a spring break destination for its history, architecture, and wildlife. This so called “Puente del Mundo” (Bridge of the World) or “Corazon del Universo” (Heart of the Universe) has very rich history as a globalized port city. It is one of the most advanced cities in Central America with its business district and canals. It is also one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world with tropical forests, volcanoes, and sand beds.

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is similar to Habana Vieja in Cuba with the typical Spanish Colonial town layout. All the buildings are about 3 to 6 floors with iconic colonial housing balconies that accommodate the weather, ventilation, and sun-shading. It also has very similar vibe to Habana Vieja with busy nightlife and rich historical buildings.  

Flea Market

Spanish Colonial Style Town Center

Biomuseo by Frank Gehry

Not many people know that Frank Gehry has a building in Panama. As a matter of fact, Biomuseo is Frank Gehry’s only building in Central America so far. The museum celebrates the biodiversity of Panama and is also delicate to Frank’s Panamanian wife. The form of the building can be easily identified with Gehry’s signature design vocabulary. The concept of the project is fairly simple: a tree of life that presents the diversity of the land. The museum has roots (concrete foundation piers), tree trunks (museum spaces), branches (steel trusses), and foliage (colored steel panels). Although in my opinion the exterior of the building looks ridiculous, the spatial experience within is actually fantastic. The integration between the building and the site is fascinating. Gehry controlled the visibility within the building with its relationship to the Panama City and the oceans. The museum has a very linear circulation for its exhibitions and programs, which works for the narrative of the museum, but somehow I felt very restricted and suppressed. Visitors would follow the slope and slowly end up at the bottom of the “tree”. The museum is completed only two years ago and is still expanding. 

The use of entrance to frame the skyline

South Western Elevation

Panamanian high-rises

Panama has a lot of advanced high-rises due to its position as an international port city and free trade zone. Many well-known international companies have their own towers here in the Panama City along with first tier five-star hotels (Trump has one here, too!). 

The world famous Panama Canal: Miraflores Locks!

Panama just recently constructed additional canals in 2016. The new ones are 60% larger than the old ones, which are also more energy efficient and eco-friendly.  

Bocas Del Toro

Bocas Del Toro is a province located at the West side of Panama with many islands. The entire province is developed more or less into an eco-tourist center with its rich natural resources. We stayed at the CocoVivo Airbnb, which is located at the very South end of the Bocas Del Toro. It’s a very small community that focuses on restoration of forests and reef beds on the Cristobal Island. The houses are built with sustainable materials and they are all environmental friendly. The housing designs are very intriguing since many of them don’t even have a solid wall! The owner of the island and our hosts use solar panels to collect electric power, and they also participated in the Google’s satellite wifi project. I’ve learned a lot about vernacular and sustainable housing throughout the trip in terms of the material use and construction. 

Solar panels that sustain the electrical power for the entire community. The power usually goes off around 10pm, we had to charge our phone while the Sun was still up!

The Google wifi satellite project!

One of the Airbnbs that you can rent on the island! Form follows function! It's a house without any solid wall.

My cozy airbnb floating on the reef bed!

Here is a short video I put together for the trip in Bocas Del Toro!