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Sustainable Materials in New Homes and Renovations
Perched in the hills of Atherton, California, 94 Melanie Lane is a striking example of how developers are pushing the envelope when it comes to new development.
“I think the market is starving for homes like this one,” says listing agent Mara McCain of The Agency Woodside.
She describes the home’s style as “organic modern,” which aptly fits the dark wooden exteriors and stark fine lines of the nearly 13,000-square-foot home. While there are all the typical features and amenities of a home of this caliber, such as imported Italian marble, a large outdoor entertaining area and custom white oak flooring, the outpost signals a turning point for material use in ways that blend in with their surroundings rather than stand out.
Whether a new build or a full renovation, the trend is moving toward the use of more understated materials that speak not only to elegance, but are also better for the environment.
“Clients are increasingly requesting sustainable options that do not compromise on aesthetics,” says Victoria Levitam, Managing Partner of The Agency’s Panama office. “This aligns with a broader trend toward eco-conscious living, where buyers seek properties that reflect their values.”
She points to the Ocean Reef development, a duo of islands set off the coast of Panama City. Within the project are a number of different residential options ranging from condos to full, estate-style homes and all share an appeal for what Levitam calls “modern, flexible spaces with hotel-style amenities.”
These are homes that blend into the coastal surroundings with soft woods, private beach access and much more. “This includes open-concept layouts that allow for seamless transitions between work and leisure,” she adds.
Like the floorplan at 94 Melanie, there are an abundance of tall, towering windows that complement this shift toward kinder, gentler hues.
Looking more at renovations, The Agency San Miguel Managing Partner Juan Diaz Rivera is noting much of this same shift, especially among a set of more mobile and younger affluent buyers coming from bigger cities into resort communities.
“Whereas older groups would use granite and marble, now their kids are using polished microcement and patinated copper or bronze, bringing in a different aesthetic,” he notes.
In the popular resort region of Los Cabos, Diaz Rivera says that a younger, middle-class generation
coming from Mexico City is spurring a competitive rental market, but also creating pause for real estate as a large amount of new development comes online. He adds that it’s the next example of mobility following the pandemic where this demographic is looking for a new resort area to settle in, laying semi-permanent roots.
“This is going to change the market dramatically,” he says. “The wealth transfer that everyone was talking about 20 years ago is happening now among Americans and Mexicans, and there are more mobile Mexicans than ever.”
Diaz Rivera also notes that a similar younger generation is striving to keep the past alive while updating old spaces for modern living. In Panama City’s historic district of Casco Antiguo, buyers are honoring the country’s colonial past by keeping old windows and other features intact to abide by strict renovation regulations and to keep the spirit of the area alive.
It’s in contrast to the wave of new development, where new clients are requesting monochromatic natural stones like travertine and limestone, and installations that make them memorable and visually striking, according to Levitam.
These materials also happen to have less of an environmental impact whether they’ve been responsibly harvested or reclaimed from another source.
“The overall design ethos leans toward freshness, combining contemporary aesthetics with a cozy ambiance that invites warmth and comfort,” she says.
These features support a new lifestyle simply not known by Panamanians a generation ago—remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle are allowing fresh tastes and design inspiration to filter into these new developments, creating a new dimension within the country’s luxury real estate offering.
“They prioritize practicality and ease of maintenance,” Levitam adds.
Gone are the days of lavish, over-the-top finishes, intricate landscaping and boldly colored, statementmaking materials. A new era of luxury residents are looking for elegance in simplicity and functionality, allowing their home to become a part of their lifestyle rather than the defining piece of it.