Sanctuary Casa Modelo

FACTS

Location
Panama City, Panama
Built area
670 m² (7,212 sq ft)
Conclusion
2024

PROJECT

Architecture
Espacio LAR
Construction
Development phase
Photography
Renderings by Espacio LAR, Zoom
Built-in Furniture
development phase
Landscape design
development phase
Type
Residential
model
Custom Architectural Development
Within the protected natural reserve at Panamá Pacífico, Sanctuary rises as a private gated community of 34 residential lots—a master-planned enclave where architecture and ecology operate in harmony. At the heart of this vision stands Casa Modelo, the demonstration residence designed to showcase what life within Sanctuary can be. This elevated modern home offers 670 square meters of living space across five spacious bedrooms, conceived as an oasis in the city where contemporary design meets tropical tranquility.
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The architectural response is defined by fluidity and openness. Clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior, framing views of the surrounding forest while flooding the residence with natural light. The single-level plan prioritizes circulation and permeability, allowing spaces to flow seamlessly from social areas to private retreats, from conditioned interiors to shaded terraces. This sense of openness creates not just visual transparency but experiential continuity—a home that breathes with its landscape.
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Materiality elevates the residence beyond function into sophistication. A unique selection of materials—natural wood ceilings, polished concrete floors, custom millwork, and carefully curated fixtures—adds layers of refinement while remaining calibrated to Panama's tropical climate. The palette balances restraint with warmth: earth tones punctuated by moments of deeper color, textures that invite touch, surfaces designed to age gracefully under humidity and sun. Every detail speaks to both performance and beauty, demonstrating that high-end residential design can honor sustainability without compromise.
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The outdoor program extends the home's identity as a sanctuary for family life. A large saltwater pool anchors the exterior spaces, its clean lines echoing the architecture's contemporary language while offering a gentler, more natural swimming experience. Adjacent, a fully equipped summer kitchen transforms outdoor gatherings into effortless experiences—a place where meals can be prepared and shared under the canopy, where the boundaries between cooking, dining, and living dissolve entirely. These spaces are designed not as amenities but as integral components of daily life, ensuring that time spent together becomes as essential as the architecture itself. Casa Modelo exists within the broader vision of Sanctuary—a community where shared infrastructure supports both individual privacy and collective well-being. Residents enjoy access to the Casa Club, with its café, coworking spaces, semi-Olympic pool, gym, yoga studio, and wellness facilities, all embedded within the same protected forest reserve. The master plan ensures that each of the 34 lots maintains seclusion and direct connection to nature, while walking trails and green corridors channel movement toward gathering spaces, fostering interaction without sacrificing autonomy.
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Sustainability is embedded in the earliest design stages. Solar panels provide energy autonomy, a biological wastewater treatment system ensures ecological sanitation, and rainwater harvesting reduces dependence on municipal supply. These systems operate invisibly, supporting long-term resilience while preserving the architecture's visual purity. Casa Modelo demonstrates that contemporary tropical living need not choose between luxury and responsibility—it can embody both with elegance and intention. Ultimately, Casa Modelo is an invitation. It reveals what life within Sanctuary can offer: a residence where modernity meets nature, where family time unfolds in spaces designed for connection, and where the forest outside becomes an essential part of home. An oasis in the city, proving that urban living can be reimagined—not as a retreat from place, but as a deeper engagement with it.
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