VB/ What typologies have been developed?
The ruling typologies are slim buildings for the accommodation of a reduced number of apartment units per floor, which floor plan dimensions are erected on one family residential lots that formed the city suburbs. The typology is very similar today, one or two apartments per floor with a system of stairs and elevators centrally located, and the minimization of the common circulations areas. The parking requirements have been increased from one parking space up to 4 parking spaces for the larger apartments. Given the conditions of latitude and views from the height of the apartments in a city of hills and seaside, the apartments maximize orientation and the buildings tend to increase the exposed façade and the dilated perimeter of window space. The tradition of separate towers with spaces in the middle is highly valued and the morphology is one of dominating slimness. The absence of storms and earthquakes also favors high rise building.

VB/ Which are, according to you, the present trends in construction?
The present trend is to build in heights of twenty stories or more, the average being 40 stories high for the best sectors of the city, and there are several buildings projected with more than 50 stories, and some even to 104 stories. These great heights have permitted the increase of the value of lots located in special places of up to US$5,000.00 per esq. The predominant building techniques of postensed slabs with a central trunk of boxes now seem to have reached the limit of this structural typology, and new techniques are already being rehearsed for the higher buildings. The preference of buyers is for high rises rather than low housing.

VB/ Could you explain the roll of the architect in the prospective, invention and context?
The roll of the architect is more relevant all the time due to the high demand for his services. Foreign architects, names of promoters and design firms from the first world explore the Panamanian environment. Some new local firms have appeared in very risky projects, but the experienced local firms are those that manage to construct the majority of the buildings that come to good term. The architectural design tends to innovation and modernity. This style is very dominant, and retro is seen as poor taste. Panama City is the most cosmopolitan in all of Central America, and the urban profile is unknown to the region. The past and the present are the context and the mix in a young and vigorous city is impressive. Architecture will always reflect the synergy of the city.

VB/ Which place do EB & Asociados and its projects occupy in this picture?
Edwin Brown & Asociados has more than 35 years experience; we have designed and introduced the most used typologies for apartments in the construction area, with more than 40 high rises and hundreds of projects of every type obtaining for us, until the year 2000, when we stopped participating in the annual contests of the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects, 50 prizes and mentions of best architectural project of the year. Our firm is positioned among the 5 more prestigious of the country.

VB /How would you define your style?
Our work is based on modern and contemporary designs of the highest possible urbanity within the urban context and in the quest to make the high rise respectable for the city. We believe the typology is legitimate for a Panamanian context and in this obvious urbanity one can construct works that add to and respect citizen interaction. We advocate for the rescue of the public space, of the sidewalk and the street level environment. Private architecture can only be perceived publicly by rendering formal respect, enduring esthetic and timeless elegance.