JULY´S FEATURED DOOR OF THE MONTH – PANAMA CITY – PANAMA

July 2, 2018 SouthAmerica

Historic doors in Panama City are found in the old center which is called Casco Viejo. This is an old Spanish port city with mason seawalls overlooking the Pacific Ocean that invokes the tales of pirate ships, and defending away looters. Panama of course is mainly a low lying country, humid, and hot. Again humid, and hot! The historic doors in Panama City reflect this climate reality by having many doors of very tall proportions that enabled the old buildings with high ceilings to move hotter air above the inhabitants, a pre-air conditioning comfort architecture. The doors contribute to this system by having an arched region at the top that remains open while being protected by an array of metal or wooden bars.

Casco Viejo is simultaneously a collapsing ruin, and renovated in places for upscale art galleries. Many of the old buildings were gutted by fire, now some buildings have supporting beams keeping the walls from tumbling down while the inside area is overgrown with jungle plants. Other buildings are poorly maintained tenements with rotting balconies, locals eking out an existence as witnessed by the drying laundry lines, and people idly passing the day. Other areas have undergone investment, and labor of restoration, making time reverse back to the quality when the structures were first erected, exceeding the original quality by new hardware, with modern plumbing and lighting.

The doors in historic Panama City have pleasant pastel colors, as well equally colorful buildings, adorned with wrought iron rails adorned with flowers. One may stroll along the avenues for hours just taking in the design features while appreciating the unique character of Panama city. From a Spanish port to being near the entrance of the Panama Canal, this city remains a hub as seen by the new glass high-rises buildings lining the beaches, albeit their new construction front entrances lack the charm, and intriguing tales recorded in the historic quarters.