Luxury treehouses built in Panama using 500-year-old wood

Nayara Bocas del Toro, the luxury retreat on a private island in Panama, unveils two towering 50-foot-tall treehouses designed by IBUKU , the Elora Hardy-led architecture studio known for building sustainable bamboo structures across Indonesia. This is the firm’s first project in Latin America. The treehouses are built using four varieties of locally sourced bamboo and 19 varieties of 500-year-old , partially petrified wood recovered directly from the bottom of the Panama Canal. IBUKU treehouses are an exquisite tribute to local craftsmanship and the sensuality of nature , with raw edges and distinctive character. The treehouses are solar powered and use harvested and purified rainwater . Great care was taken to design wastewater treatment, as specified in a detailed environmental study conducted prior to construction.

The airy accommodations have 21-foot ceilings and feature a tropical aesthetic , floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air living room overlooking the mangrove forest canopy. Outdoor showers and soaking tubs invite guests to immerse themselves in nature , and a pulley system allows for discreet room service . “The bamboo and reclaimed wood beneath our feet give texture to our journey. Overlooking the mangrove forest, the landscape envelops us and makes us feel part of it. With a balance of elegance and texture, we are at once open to nature and protected in our own space. This is the place where we can incubate unforgettable experiences ,” says designer Elora Hardy. The resort also features 16 overwater villas , a 70-foot freshwater pool, the Elephant House restaurant, which was imported from Bali and is over 100 years old, and the world's first elevated white sand beach built on stilts over the sea.