Special Features
Iconic architecture – the stuff a country’s brand is made of
Looks like NY.
By Jacob Ehrler
Architecture is one of the aspects that experts cite when discussing the subject of country branding. Iconic buildings become symbols of the places where they are built: The Eiffel Tower in Paris, Big Ben in London and the Burg Al Arab in Dubai. And since Panama is the rising star among chic tropical vacation destinations, those concerned with the branding of our country must certainly be happy with all of the buildings going up lately.
Some residential, some office, some mixed use and many of them with a hotel integrated, there are several eye-catching icons in the skyline of Panama City.
Looks like PTY.
It’s certainly not a one-horse show. In fact, it’s the staggering number of unique buildings either on the rise or already standing that is so impressive to visitors here. “New York!” exclaimed a Swiss tourist upon seeing the city skyline for her first time. Flanked behind a ridge of the Parque Metropolitano as an Air Panama flight from David landed at the Albrook Airport, the resemblance between this angle of PTY and NYC as seen from Central Park was very apparent.
Four’s a crowd at Avenida Balboa & Aquilino de la Guardia
Four big buildings are on the rise. Yoo by Starck is under construction next to its sister building Arts Tower, both by the same developer. These are followed by White Tower, which borders Star Bay Tower, which occupies the lot on the corner of Avenida Federico Boyd and Avenida Balboa. These four buildings by three different developers are reaching for the heavens all at exactly the same time. The Hilton chain has integrated one of its five new hotels announced for Panama City here in Star Bay Tower.
 Yoo by Starck and Arts Tower. |
 White Tower. |
 Star Bay Tower. |
Trumping Punta Pacifica
For tourists who arrive at Panama’s number one port of entry, Tocumen International, the sailboat-inspired Trump Tower stands out first in the line of the Punta Pacifica skyscrapers. This new neighborhood, nonexistent ten years ago, is the first dense concentration of buildings that new arrivals see upon entering the city via the Southern Corredor from the airport. Donald Trump is scheduled to be here for the opening in 2011.
Revolution:
The spiral shaped office building
Under construction on Calle 50, which is the main artery of commerce and banking in the city, Revolution Tower is rising to iconic status. Each new floor is taking a turn above the floor below to create a memorable impression on tourists as well as on the growing international business community settling on the Isthmus.