Hospitality Design - December 2011 - 57

places: panama

perspectives

Colombia and Venezuela, so he’s not surprised there are “ﬁfteen cranes up in Panama right now.” While the crowded construction has “put pressure on the contractors,” Walters notes the country’s excellent steelworkers and concrete pourers. Wallcoverings expertise, however, has proved a bit more challenging because with Panama’s intense humidity, paint is typically favored. Hyatt is also coming to Panama City with a Hyatt Place, expected by early 2013, the ﬁrst of three hotels planned for the country with Immobiliare Real Estate Development.

Nature Inspired
Proving the upscale hotel category is thriving in Panama is the Trump Ocean Club & International Hotel Tower. The ﬁrst international destination for the brand, the property opened in July as Panama City’s tallest building. What is distinctive is that it successfully melds the sophistication synonymous with the brand with a soothing tropical vibe that pays tribute to Panama’s natural surroundings. HBA’s Atlanta ofﬁce spearheaded the design, which, as associate Betsy Hughes notes, revolves around “a light, effortless space that conveys

From left: Red, brass, and Cartier-inspired lights meld at the bar inside the Trump Ocean Club & International Hotel Tower; the Trump’s living room-like Sky Lobby.

Moving on Up
It is Hilton’s luxe Panamera hotel, also scheduled to open in Panama City in June as part of the burgeoning Waldorf Astoria collection, which reﬂects an increasing customer desire for high-end accommodations in the market. The 248-room and residence Panamera, for which Hilton has partnered with developer F&F Properties, will feature ﬁve F&B concepts, a mosaic gold-tiled swimming pool, and large marble bathrooms. The next Panama City hotel to showcase vibrant new design is the Bristol Panama in January. The multi-level expansion, overseen by Costa Rica-based Zürcher Arquitectos, is comprised of 63 guestrooms, eight expansive suites, 40 condominiums to be called the Residences at Bristol Panama, and the 8°58’ Lounge. Following that elaborate renovation, additional works-in-progress include the Spa at Bristol with city and ocean views and the rebranding of Barandas Restaurant as Social Table. Perhaps the most interesting signal of Panama’s new posh aesthetic is Pearl Island, a sustainable real estate and leisure development, slated for completion over the next 10-15 years, on a 6,000-year-old private getaway off the west coast of the country. Set on Isla Pedro Gonzalez, part of the Pearl Island Archipelago, only an hour’s boat ride from Panama City, it is a collaboration between Dolphin Capital Investors and Grupo Eleta designed by Hart Howerton. Along with villas and a bustling marina, there are also plans for the development to encompass up to three branded hotels. First up: a 24-suite property anticipated to open in three years.

the modern tropics.” For instance, in the living room-like Sky Lobby on the 15th ﬂoor, a grand staircase mingles with low, inviting furniture and bright rugs that reference local ﬂowers. In the wine bar, which channels a circa 1900s Louis Vuitton steamer trunk, a leather-covered doorframe adorned with engravings from the bottoms of wine bottles leads to a brass-buttoned bar punctuated by red and Cartier-esque chandeliers, while the bar in the restaurant is crafted from cedro espino wood, salvaged from trees preserved underwater since the ﬁrst round of construction on the canal. A 1,562-square-foot penthouse, awash in yellow and silver with granite countertops and marble ﬂoors, is another highlight. “We traveled around Panama to experience the culture and bring a sense of place to the hotel,” explains Erin Sullivan, an interior designer at HBA who worked on the project. “The spaces are very grand but Panama is an inviting place, so we wanted to create a place where you felt at home. Cream stone and fractal wall panels bring in warmth.” By traveling back and forth to the country for four years, Sullivan and Hughes acquired a keen understanding of authentic architectural elements—and an opportunity to see Panama’s rapidly accelerating tourism market evolve ﬁrsthand. The duo even tapped into Panama’s rich cultural history, highlighting the country’s indigenous seven tribes by integrating the stitching, bold hues, and patterns they are known for onto the likes of woven masks and custom fabrics. “We gobbled it up,” shares Hughes. “We were inspired by lush, verdant spaces, an easier lifestyle, and by the way the cultures over the years have mixed and intermingled. It’s a crazy melting pot.”

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December 2011

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