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PanamArq in Architecture Boston “Change” Issue
PanamArq was recently mentioned in the Spring 2012 issue of Architecture Boston, the Boston Society of Architects’ publication. Myself and a group of emerging young architects joined for drinks and dinner to discuss the future of the profession. If you have the time, the entire publication is a good read. It talks about change in ...
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Why Build a Subway and Not Fix the Sidewalks?
My friend Ramon and I were having a conversation this past week about the new Panama Metro. He brought up a very good point about why this is a waste of resources. “Why build a metro, if I can’t walk on the sidewalks?”. Panama City is not a walkable city. He lives in the downtown ...
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Resort Playa Onda
This is a type of project that makes me feel really guilty about being an architect. A great architecture firm; Elemental of Chile, who is responsible for some amazing work, has decided to drop a big stinky turd on Panama. Their design for Resort Playa Onda (which I doubt will ever be built) is ...
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Panatropolis: Panama’s Airport City
Panatropolis is a new planned development near Panama’s Tocumen International Airport. I just recently heard news of this development, so I do need some time to digest it before I post any analysis, but here is the video proposal as well as a few images from the Panatropolis website. [singlepic id=46 w=600 h=240 float=center] Airport ...
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Young Designers Feature: Giro Urbano
A new feature of panamArq will focus on young designers throughout the world, with an emphasis on Panama and the Americas. The catch-22 with the design community is that in order to get recognized, you have to build or create something amazing, but in order to have the ability to build something amazing, you must ...
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BNP Tower & The Panama City Waterfront Initiative
The news that the Panamanian government is investing in a new financial tower designed by world famous Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in downtown Panama City has created much controversy; which is why I love being an architect, because I can just talk about the building and forget about all of the politics! First, the Financial Tower is ...
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A Canal Design Competition
I noticed this competition link and thought that I would share it with all of you. It seems like a fun ideas based challenge. Basically any idea you have for the Panama Canal is legit, you just need to photoshop it onto this image. Here is the official brief from the organizers. As a celebration of our ...
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Livable "Complete" Streets for Panama
I noticed this initiative by The National Complete Streets Coalition (via Wired Magazine) which seeks to create guidelines for more livable urban streets. The definition of “livable” in this case is that the streets are accommodating to all modes of transportation; autos, pedestrians, bicycles, and public transportation.
This is something which I believe should be adopted by Panama in order to fix the increasing problems of traffic, pollution, and an unlivable urban environment. -
Cinta Costera and Car Centric Design
Cinta Costera is the most recent transportation and land reclamation project in Panama City. The goal of the project was to expand the existing roadway and improve traffc organization while creating new recreational areas by reclaiming land from the bay. As anyone who has traveled to Panama will tell you, traffic is an immediate crisis. ...
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Emerald Monkey in Bali, ooops I mean Bocas
This left me scratching my head for a moment…. in fact as I am writing this I am still very confused. First. Emerald Monkey Eco-luxe Resort and Residences, claims to be the first 5-star zero-carbon resort in the world…..ummmm sure. It is very hard to believe this. Maybe there aren’t any existing 5-star zero-carbon resorts, ...
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Panama Pacifico…the GREAT, the Bad, and the Ugly
Panama Pacifico is a new mega-development at the former Howard Air Force Base, across the canal from Panama City. This is actually more of a new city than a new development. It lists itself as 1,400 hectares of land (650 of which is reserved for open space and parklands) and will create 1 million square ...
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Panama, the Dubai of the Americas…..WHY?!
Many people have called Panama City, “The Dubai of Latin America”. Many developers and real estate agents are advertising it this way. The media is hyping it. My question is…. WHY????? Why does Panama City want to become a Dubai? Who wants Panama to be a Dubai? Is being the Dubai of the America something ...