BIOMA is taking shape in the center of Costa del Este as one of the more distinctive new residential projects in the area. A tower of around 60 floors, more than 7,000 square meters of communal areas and, above all, extensive greenery are intended to distinguish the building from conventional high-rise developments.
Anyone passing Town Center can already follow the construction progress. The first levels of the future building are emerging from the excavation, while two large construction cranes currently dominate the site.
BIOMA is being built in a central location in Costa del Este, directly opposite Town Center.
A high-rise designed to be green
The name BIOMA itself hints at what is intended to distinguish the project from many other new residential towers. Green terraces, planted communal areas and vegetation that partially extends over the edges of the building characterize the project visualizations.
Particularly striking is the broad multi-level podium. Large, partly high-ceilinged and openly designed communal areas are planned there. Above it rises the considerably slimmer residential tower. According to project information, BIOMA comprises around 60 floors.
The concept is described as an interaction between different “Ecosystems”. In total, more than 7,000 square meters of communal areas are planned. In addition to pools and fitness areas, these include more unusual facilities such as bowling, a golf simulator, a cinema, music and art spaces, as well as a “Nature Pool” and a “Tree House”.
Based on the current plans, BIOMA therefore belongs to the Costa del Este projects whose communal facilities go well beyond the usual combination of swimming pool, gym and event rooms.
Apartments from 65 to more than 150 square meters
Different apartment sizes and floor plans are planned. The units currently offered start at around 65 square meters and, depending on the configuration, extend to well above 150 square meters. With units starting at around 65 square meters, BIOMA offers particularly compact floor plans by Costa del Este standards.
Current sales listings start at approximately US$335,000. Larger apartments are offered at correspondingly higher prices. Since prices can change during the construction and marketing phase, these figures should only be regarded as a current snapshot.
What will residents actually look out onto?
In a building of around 60 floors, the view inevitably plays an important role. The broad main facade of BIOMA is not oriented directly toward the sea, but eastward toward Town Center, the residential areas behind it and the green areas in the direction of Tocumen.
This has an advantage: Town Center directly in front of this side of the building is comparatively low-rise. Views from the higher floors should therefore remain largely open.
Apartments on the sides of the tower may instead offer views toward Bahía de Panamá and across areas in the center of Costa del Este that are still partly undeveloped. How these sightlines develop in the long term will also depend on future construction on the remaining vacant plots.
Plenty of greenery – what will BIOMA look like after several years?
The greenery is precisely what makes BIOMA interesting. It is not merely an addition to the communal areas but an essential part of the architecture. Without the numerous plants, the building would lose a significant part of its distinctive character.
It will therefore be interesting to see how the concept performs over the long term in the tropical climate of Panama. One particular question concerns the cleaning and maintenance of the light-colored facades immediately adjacent to the extensive planting.
Whether the completed building will still look as green and at the same time as immaculately bright after several years as it does in the visualizations will ultimately only become apparent during everyday operation.
Central location – and plenty of traffic outside the door
The location in the middle of Costa del Este is one of the obvious advantages of BIOMA. Town Center, shops, restaurants, medical facilities and numerous other services are located in the immediate vicinity.
However, this central location also has another side. One of the important traffic routes through the district runs directly in front of BIOMA, with a major intersection immediately nearby. Traffic regularly backs up here, particularly in the afternoon. Residents on the main side of BIOMA will therefore have not only a largely unobstructed direction of view, but, especially on the lower floors, the daily traffic of Costa del Este right outside their door.
It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the coming years. Traffic infrastructure around Costa del Este is currently being expanded along Corredor Sur. The measures are intended to improve traffic flow, while the construction work itself is also causing additional disruption. How much the new traffic routing will actually relieve this central area once completed remains to be seen.
An unusual project for Costa del Este
BIOMA is likely to noticeably change the appearance of this part of Costa del Este. The contrast between the tall, slender residential tower and the broad, intensively planted podium makes the project architecturally interesting.
The key question will be how much of the ambitious green concept shown in the visualizations is ultimately implemented and how it performs after several years of everyday use.
If the greenery and generous communal areas are realized as announced, the result here will in any case be more than just another residential tower in Costa del Este.
Relevance: BIOMA is one of the more distinctive residential construction projects currently underway in central Costa del Este. For property buyers, the unusual green design, extensive communal areas, actual viewing directions and the central but traffic-intensive location are particularly relevant alongside apartment sizes and prices.
