The Journal
Guides, stories and answers for building a FRESH® home in Panama.
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Engineering
Foundations for Hillside Homes: Minimal-Impact Options That Still Last 50 Years
The foundation choices that actually matter on a sloped Panamanian lot — full slab, stepped slab, pier and grade beam, stilts —...
May 25, 2026Engineering
Building on Uneven and Sloped Terrain in Panama: What Actually Works
A complete guide to building on hilly land in Panama — why so much good land is sloped, what cut-and-fill really costs,...
May 25, 2026Gatun Lake
Building a House on a Lakefront Lot in Panama (Gatun, Bayano & Beyond)
What it takes to build a lakefront house in Panama — soil, permits, access, lake levels, breeze and dock — and how...
May 25, 2026Off-grid
The Off-Grid Home in Panama: Solar, Water Treatment and Self-Sufficiency
What an off-grid home in Panama really takes — solar sizing, water treatment, septic, propane, internet — and how the insulated FRESH...
May 25, 2026Logistics
Building in Remote Locations: Logistics, Costs and the Modular Advantage
Why traditional construction breaks down on remote Panamanian sites, and how a factory-prefabricated Kit of Parts changes the logistics of building in...
May 25, 2026