The conference explored the rich history of Panama City across three pivotal eras, offering the audience a unique perspective on the urban experiments that have shaped this metropolis over time.
Below are the key points addressed by the Architect Álvaro Uribe, an architect with a degree from the University of Panama, a master’s degree in Land Use Planning from the University of Paris, and a postgraduate degree in Geographic Information Systems from the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Uribe is also a professor at the University of Panama and a research associate at the International Center for Sustainable Development (CIDES) in Panama and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Cambridge, U.S.
In addition, he has served as an urban planning consultant for the Panama Metro since its inception in 2009 and is the author of the essay Fragmented City (1989), on the urban structure of Panama, the country where he currently resides.
Panama: A Strategic Location Throughout History
Uribe began the conference by highlighting Panama’s unique strategic location, serving as a key transit point between North and South America, with the Pacific to the southeast and the Atlantic to the northwest. This geographic position has been vital for millions of years, establishing Panama as a fundamental transit zone.
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Founding and Initial Destruction
Panama City, founded in 1519, was the first Spanish settlement on the American Pacific coast. Uribe suggested that its initial design adopted a structure similar to a Roman military camp, according to historians’ hypotheses. However, the old city was destroyed in 1671 by the pirate Henry Morgan, giving way to the reconstruction known as Panama la Vieja.
Changes in the Old Town
The Old Town, surrounded by mangroves, underwent a remarkable archaeological and urban renewal beginning in the 1970s. This process included gentrification, transforming the area into a tourist and commercial attraction.
The Impact of Panama's Separation from Colombia and the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty
The Panama’s separation from Colombia in 1903 and the signing of the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty with the United States marked a milestone in the city’s urban history. The creation of the Canal Zone shaped development of Panama throughout the 20th century.
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Health Challenges and Urban Development
The conference also addressed significant health challenges such as malaria and yellow fever, which led to sanitation measures implemented by Americans led by William Gorgas. The arrival of running water in 1913 marked a milestone in the improvement of sanitary conditions in the city.
Urban Development Outside the City Walls and Housing Models
Starting in 1904, the city expanded beyond the city walls, adopting an urban layout influenced by the New York model. rental housing models with specific dimensions, giving rise to neighborhoods such as Marañón and La Exposición.
Scattered development and challenges for the future
Over the decades, the city has adopted various urban models, including the “slice” design, which divides plots of land rather than city blocks. Private developments such as Costa del Este illustrate the trend toward gated communities with limited access to public transportation, posing challenges for future .
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Panama City’s Current Transformation and Future Challenges
The arrival of the Panama Metro has been a significant catalyst in the current urban transformation, aiming to densify areas around stations for a more efficient use of space. However, challenges lie ahead, such as expansion toward the Canal watershed.
Exploring the 21st-Century Interoceanic City
The conference concluded with a look ahead to an interoceanic city in the 21st century, highlighting the importance of studying how the tropical rainforest can be integrated with the ever-changing city.
This event, part of the 2023 Urban Planning Workshop organized by the Department of Urban Planning, Environment, and Landscape, provided a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Panama City and the challenges it faces in its ongoing urban development.
The lecture by Architect Álvaro Uribe was a unique opportunity for architecture students and professionals at Universidad ORT Uruguay immerse themselves in the rich history and promising future of this experimental city.
Watch the full conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrds-jERcVw