In 2008, while visiting his wife in Panama, my colleague, Daniel became acclimated with the different nature walk trails in the beautiful central American country. On a tour led by his wife and a group of nature admirers through The Quetzal Trail, Daniel couldn’t help but notice the European style lodges scattered at the base of the trail. He identified a problem in the alienated masonry style structures which contextually felt out of place in the forest setting. He, however, saw the problem as a design opportunity and challenged himself to design this conceptual eco-friendly resort master plan. In theory, this design, which is comprised of a cluster of eco-friendly lodges and a check-in lodge would be an alternative to the current ones. The design criteria revolves around the preservation of the natural setting, proper orientation to water views, and the use of local materials. All three design proposals allow for a development which nestles harmoniously within the natural topography of the site.
