Header: Alfredo Maiquez
El Arca residential pavilion is inspired by the landscape of Panama’s coffee highlands. Designed by Mallol in Nueva Suiza, Chiriquí, Panama, the project was built by local developers Amílcar and Abdiel Rodríguez, who specialised in timber construction.
Leaf-inspired arc
The volume is placed below a single curved roof that provides continuous shelter from the rain. The residence is named The Arc for its distinctive curved arc visible against the surrounding tree trunks. The profile of the structure mimics the shape of a dry leaf that’s fallen to the ground.
Locally sourced materials and labour
Dining, living and resting areas are arranged below a canopy oriented toward the river and the gardens. The exposed timber structure above shapes the interior volume. Locally sourced materials include cedar, a timber native to the property, ensuring that the building reflects the territory it resides in while at the same time reducing carbon emissions by eliminating external supply chains.
The cedar is used throughout the design to build the structural frame, floors, walls, cladding, and exposed ceiling. The joinery was handcrafted by the local craftsmen. Shingle completes the exterior envelope, keeping the material continuity, while responding to rain, mist and daily temperature shifts. Locally sourced stone was used for terraces, pathways and ground surfaces.
Adapting the project to the surrounding nature
The designers from Mallol have decided to build the residence around a massive boulder discovered on site. The rock became a central element of the interior garden enveloped by endemic plants, cedar and glass, and carefully lit to highlight its beauty. The boulder remains visible from the riverside. Keeping the boulder represents a nature-sensitive approach in which, instead of destroying the existing conditions for the project, the designers decided to accommodate the building to the location.
This approach extends to the cultivated gardens in the exterior. Filled with endemic species, the garden represents the continuity with the landscape. A mountain river runs along the property edges, carrying the sound of water flow through the interior like a soundtrack of nature.
Economic impact
The Mallol’s El Arca had a positive effect on the economy of the area, considering that everything from the material to the craftspeople was sourced locally from the surrounding Chiriquí highlands. By keeping the entire supply and labour chain within the region, the project generated economic activity and kept the know-how in Panama.
El Arca retreat, located on the slopes of Volcán Barú, a region globally known for the production of prestigious Geisha coffee, blends seamlessly into the lavish landscape. El Arca highlights how climate-responsive architecture can provide comfort while respecting and preserving the natural landscape.
Technical sheet
Official project name: El Arca
Location: Nueva Suiza, Chiriquí, Panamá
Client: Private
Architects: Mallol
Design team: Mallol
Project completion date: 2024
Photographers: Alfredo Maiquez and Pepe Calavera
Carpentry and Construction Execution: Amílcar Rodríguez and Abdiel Rodríguez
Construction area (sqm): 220 sqm
