The result is more than a house, it is a convergence of architecture, ecology, and community. Designed with global expertise and brought to life through deep local engagement,

Architecture can be a catalyst for conservation—not only preserving natural systems, but actively participating in their regeneration. When Ivan Morales left New York to oversee the construction of AMA Estancia, a home designed by Annabelle Selldorf, he stepped away from the predictability of urban practice and into the complexities of building in a remote, ecologically sensitive part of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula. Together with his partner, Kristin Morales, they managed the project on the ground from start to finish, assembling a team of local laborers and craftsmen and adapting to the rhythms of the site.

They moved to the nearby town of Pedasí, a sleepy fishing village with fewer than 1,000 residents, where horses still roam the streets and the pace of life follows the tides. It was a dramatic shift from city life, but one that allowed them to fully immerse themselves in the place and culture where they were building. Building AMA Estancia came with significant logistical challenges. There were no fences, no power lines, no internet, and minimal infrastructure. The road in was rough and unpaved, and during the rainy season, the bridges would often overflow, cutting off access entirely. These conditions required patience, resourcefulness, and deep collaboration with the local team. To ensure quality and troubleshoot issues in real time, Ivan and Kristin lived in the house for six months during the final stages of construction.

The home was conceived as a gateway between land and sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors on every exterior wall allow the residence to flow from the dramatic landscape into modern rooms with adjacent indoor and outdoor living spaces overlooking the Pacific. The house is organized horizontally to allow for a seamless transition between inside and out, with a three-story tower near the main entry to anchor the scheme and provide vertical orientation. Inspired by tropical modernism, the home employs cross ventilation, daylighting, and long, low roofs. The master bedroom and office are elevated in the tower, and five guest rooms are arranged as individual structures along a shaded terrace interspersed with interior gardens. This layout creates generously scaled spaces that are comfortable throughout the day and night.

The design was adapted for the sensitivity of the remote site. A two-way training process between architects and local craftsmen resulted in a skilled workforce able to interpret modern design through local materials and techniques. Tropical hardwoods were sustainably harvested from the estate, and the exterior plaster—a blend of sand, marble dust, terra cotta, and concrete—gives the building a subtle luminescence that blends with the landscape. All of the custom furniture was designed by IMKM, and Annabelle Selldorf and built on site by IMKM, using these same local hardwoods and hand-finished techniques to ensure cohesion between architecture and interiors.

AMA Estancia was not a speculative development. It was personal. Alongside construction, Ivan and Kristin, together with the property owners, launched a reforestation and restoration initiative. They removed a former U.S. Army landing strip that had scarred the land and replaced it with a 3-hectare freshwater lake designed with landscape designer Edwina von Gal. The lake now anchors the reserve, restoring habitat and hydrological function. Thousands of native trees were also planted to repair pastureland and reestablish wildlife corridors.

AMA Estancia is conceived as a gateway between land and sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors on every exterior wall allow the residence to flow easily from the dramatic landscape into modern rooms with adjacent indoor and outdoor living spaces that overlook the Pacific. A reforestation effort spanning nearly a decade begins at the front door and creates a biological corridor to the adjacent conservation forest of Reserva Ecologica Panamaes. This effort included building a lake that provides irrigation for the ongoing land regeneration and organic farm, and sustains the return of native wildlife.

The home is organized horizontally to allow for a seamless transition between indoors and out, with a three-story tower adjacent to the main entry of the house to anchor the design scheme and provide vertical orientation. The master bedroom and office are elevated in the tower, and five guest rooms are individual structures along a large, shaded terrace interspersed with interlocking interior gardens. This juxtaposition of indoor/outdoor space provides generously scaled rooms, which can be enjoyed throughout the day and night.

“The result is more than a house, it is a convergence of architecture, ecology, and community. Designed with global expertise and brought to life through deep local engagement, Reserva Ecológica Panamaes demonstrates that meaningful design is not just about aesthetics, but about long-term relationships—with people, with land, and with the future.”

— Ivan morales - Founder

First Occupancy: AMA Estancia

To see AMA Estancia glow at dusk, you would never know the dark days it took to reach this threshold. Nine months delayed and still with just minutes to spare, the client arrives for their first stay at AMA Estancia.

Ama Estancia was the project that originally brought us to Panama. The 10,000 square foot residence was designed by Selldorf Architects in New York City, where I worked as the project architect at the time. The European-Panamanian client envisioned a cozy beachside retreat that was both modern and reflective of local design and materials…