Casa Loro featured in Architectural Digest

The March 2022 issue of Architectural Digest hit newsstands on February 15, 2022. The issue features Casa Loro, our most recent residential project at Reserva Ecologica Panamaes.

All photography by Anita Calero for Architectural Digest

author

KRISTIN MORALES, LEED BD+C
FOUNDER / PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

IVAN MORALES
FOUNDER / PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

The March 2022 issue of Architectural Digest beautifully captures Casa Loro, our most recent residential project at Reserva Ecologica Panamaes. Photographer Anita Calero visited the property in October, where we were graced with a rare set of sunny days during rainy season for her extraordinary photographic approach. Writer Jane Keltner de Valle spent time getting to know the project intentions and the vision of our client Aerin Lauder, which are portrayed wonderfully in the article.

We’re immensely proud to see the project feature - this is an exciting time not only for our firm, but for the entire team and or our many collaborators who have together to make Casa Loro a reality - it has been an adventure to say the least.

We hope you will check out the feature in Architectural Digest. You can view it online (Tour Aerin Lauder's Indoor-Outdoor Tropical Escape) - or better yet, seek out the printed issue of the magazine. In the meantime, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many collaborators whose expertise made this project possible. Together we have executed a project that realizes what can be achieved when we consider the communities and environments in which we are working.

The article in AD briefly covers the extensive reforestation efforts that preceded the construction of Casa Loro - an effort that has been as important as the architecture itself. This project, along with the others we’ve completed in the Azuero Peninsula of Panama, informed the formation of Reserva Ecologica Panamaes, a private land trust dedicated to conserving and regenerating the dry tropical forest and coastal ecosystems that we’ve been building within.

Every collaborator on Casa Loro has become a steward of this extraordinary ecosystem by joining us on this project, for which we are truly grateful. Casa Loro is a model for responsible development and proof of our mission that design and ecological preservation are not just congruent, but that their relationship yields more interesting architecture while sustaining vital ecosystems. That impact will be felt well beyond the property boundaries for generations to come.

And now for many thanks -

We’d like to thank our clients, Aerin, Eric and their sons, Jack and Will - they trusted us to transform a barren cow pasture into a tropical paradise. Your vision and advocacy outlasted many twists and turns, and we hope that your family will create incredible memories here for generations to come. Reserva Panamaes has had a profound ecological and social impact, and Aerin’s vision continues to inspire us as she transforms Casa Loro with every passing season.

To our IM/KM team for making the impossible possible, through your perseverance, and enormous design talent - Mary Elizabeth Burton, Rene Nava, Betsy Cerrud de Quintero, Sasha Cole, Deborah Cavaliere, Emily Kinskey, Elizabeth Fife Nguyen

To the Casa Loro and Reserva Panamaes teams, whose adaptability, perseverance and passion made Casa Loro possible and whose work extends far beyond the boundaries of the reserve - Betsy Cerrud de Quintero, Zuleimy Bonilla, Saul Cedeno, Enitha Nahir Cerrud, Juan Ortega, Juan Mendoza, Horacio José Peralta Pineda, Orlando Díaz, Jose Luis Alvarez, Ariel Castillo, Edwin Concepcion, Delvis Espino, Chico Aguirre, Roger Martinez, David Cedeno, Domi Luis Perez, Ariel Saez, Jose Luis Alvarez, Francisco Cisneros, Jorge Rivera, Gregorio Trujillo, Saturnino Rodriguez, Miguel Sanchez, Carlos Copri, Adalberto Taborda, Franklin Castillo, Antonio Espino, Edwin Nunez, Marcos Vergara, Ricardo Ortega, Moises Caballero, Guillermo Gonzales, Edgar Hernandez, Maria De los Angeles Echeverria Marquez and many, many more who have contributed invaluable work to our team, past and present.

To VTNA Architects, and their team - Takashi Niwa, Masaaki Iwamoto, So Adachi, Jose Garcia, to name a few - for your beautiful work with the bamboo, we have learned so much from you.

To Titi Hernandez and Anabel Fernandez and your team at Hiedra Y Bambú, for your sophisticated and beautiful design that integrates seamlessly with the overall project design.

To Luc Stampleman, Jason Hughes, and the team at LNJ Tech- the project would not have come together without you (literally!)

To Daniel Romualdez for your contribution to the beautiful interiors, under the vision of Aerin Lauder.

To Richard Dupont for his beautiful sculpture and artwork, an iconic addition to the ocean views at Casa Loro.

To Ilka Vargas, Yanelly Gallimore at Galliarte Design Studio, Vincent Lee at ARUP, Igor Bienstock at ICOR, to Ana Gallego García and Jessica Mandrick at GMS, Charlie Buscarino at The Clarient Group, Bill Simmons at Lothrop Associates / Trace Pool Design, Luke Sparks at Endureed, Design Plus Studio, Juan Carlos and Juan Andres Navarro @Nolar Panama, Tricia + Winston at WE Design, Grupo Watermanía, John Romano and Dave Coonan at All American Pools, Sebastian Boniche at Taller Boniche, Lee Maugham at La Cantina Doors, Ivan de Ycaza + Luis Solorzano at Construcciones del Este, and Andrews Futo at La Cuisine PTY – and to all of your teams whose collaboration made this work possible – thank you!

Finally to the team who helped bring the AD feature to life - Anita Calero, Nao Fujishiro, Jane Keltner de Valle, Jessica Salinger, Emily Gordon and Shaila Valdes - thank you!