“Panama has pretty much always been a bridge for cultures, conquerors and, well, birds, but once that mishmash gets distilled into the 50-some blocks of Casco Viejo, an eclectic, almost Noah’s Ark-like vibrancy prevails.”

New York Times
”Panama City Rising” / May 2013

Details
Casco Viejo, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá
412 m² / Renovation
Expected completion 2022

Architect Notes
At the edge of the historic & rapidly gentrifying Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panamá we are working with the Fernandez family to renovate their 150-year old building into a new family-owned restaurant and event space. This much-needed renovation will allow the family to remain in their longtime home and benefit from recent improvements to the area, rather than being forced out of the neighborhood by rising costs and developer pressure as so many of their neighbors already have been. Families that have been part of the community for generations should be able to enjoy the social and financial benefits of increased investment in their neighborhood.

The street grid shifts unexpectedly at this part of Casco, resulting in a wonderfully odd collection of oblique corner buildings. A family-run restaurant will occupy the ground floor of this high-profile location, with an eye towards serving the neighborhood itself - not only tourists. Upstairs - where each wall still includes a louvered vent across the top of the room, to encourage natural ventilation - the front half of the building will be converted into a series of charming dining rooms for private events and family dinners. The carved snakes that stand guard on the front balcony will remain unchanged, of course!