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.
Project Name: Ama Estancia
Studio Name: IM-KM ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING
Location: Panama
Status: Built
Image Credits: Emily Kinsey, Ivan Morales, Kristin Morales
Together with his partner, Kristin Morales, he 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.
The land became known as Reserva Ecológica Panamaes—a site for regenerative design
and ecological stewardship. In addition to AMA Estancia, the reserve now includes two
more homes: Casa Loro and Casa Las Tortugas, both designed by Ivan and Kristin through
their firm, IMKM Architecture and Planning. These residences continue the vision of
integrating architecture with conservation. They are sited with care, built from renewable
materials, and designed to preserve native vegetation and topography.
The reserve includes an active forest conservation program, with seed collection, native
tree propagation, and ongoing habitat monitoring. Along the coast, a turtle nursery
supports the hatching and release of endangered sea turtles in partnership with regional
conservation networks.
Over the past 15 years, the project has also provided sustained local employment in
woodworking, land stewardship, and hospitality. Many of the original team members
remain involved today. This long-term commitment has built trust, skills, and shared
ownership in the project’s success.
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.
