There has always been an invisible line in Panama City.
If you walk past the manicured UNESCO-protected plazas of San Felipe and keep heading west past the historical city wall, the rhythm of the city changes. The confined colonial streets widen. The architecture becomes more eclectic—a conversation between early 20th-century traditionalists and Panama’s contemporary ambitions. The air feels different; it’s less about the tourist gaze and more about the city’s actual heartbeat.
The zone in between the stone buildings and the skyscrapers is Santa Ana.
The Myth of the Trichotomy
For years, urban living in Panama City has involved a series of trade-offs. Locals would tell you that you had three main choices:
You could choose the high-rise—a "glass box" in the sky that offers gym access and parking but leaves you feeling like a stranger in your own building.
You could live in a house, either in a gated community—clean, safe and sterile—or in a traditional neighborhood with the hit-or-miss infrastructure, walkability and services that go along with city life in the developing world.
You could choose the soul of the historic district, with all of its charm, warmth, community, but at the expense of a certain amount of modern convenience.
But the trade-off between character and convenience is not a necessary one.
At Conservatorio, we’ve spent twenty years thinking about this trade-off and we’ve realized that perhaps the most profound way to live isn't by choosing one or the other—it’s by creating an urban village with the best of both worlds.
How to have the Best of Both Worlds
We’re motivated by the concept of an Urban Village.
Gran Central is designed as a series of independent buildings woven together by a grid of pedestrian streets that tie into the larger grid of the historic district. It’s meant to feel like it has always been here, yet solve the friction points of historic district living. Everything you need—the morning coffee, the Mercado San Felipe de Neri for fresh produce, a sunset run along the waterfront—is within a short, vibrant stroll.
The convenience is a product of connectedness. A place where a car is easy, but far from neccesary. Culture is woven into every day life, rather than requiring effort. Community is a product of getting around on foot, shared interests and the extra time afforded by having everything so close.
A Canvas for Every Lifestyle
Because Santa Ana breathes with a different energy, we knew Gran Central couldn't be a monolithic block. It needed to mirror the diversity of the people who are drawn to this district—those who see potential where others can’t.
We thought about the people we have met in the historic district over the years and realized that they are diverse, and they crave diversity of lifestyle options. Some are building their lives in the historic district, and want a tight-nit building with long-term neighbors. For them we have La Vanguardia, an architectural statement, made to be occupied by owners and long-term renters.
Others need flexibility. Panama is in their plans, but they need time to build their bridge here. For them, we have La Union, which is set up for good living, but allows rentals as short as one month (but not nightly) to provide a high degree of income generation options, without losing the homey feeling.
And for those who love the idea of Panama but have their roots planted firmly elsewhere, La Central City Flats & Club provides a zero-hassle way to participate in the growth and still have fun using their property whenever they like.
Are You Our Kind of Adventurer?
Living at Gran Central isn't for everyone. It’s for the person who sees a splash from a street puddle as an invitation to play, not a reason to complain. It’s for the person who values an eclectic Friday night playlist over a quiet, anonymous hallway.
The search for a home is ultimately about finding where you fit in the city's story. Santa Ana is writing its most exciting chapter yet.
The question is: Are you ready to be a co-author?
Welcome home.