ABOUT OUR CASA
Iconic building of Casco Antiguo of Panama located on Avenida A, between streets 5 and 6 West of San Felipe (behind the Canal Museum). Built on two properties (Finca No. 1795 and 1798), both with a total area of 359m2, Casa Mallet has two different concepts: the left side of the building reflects a style from the time of the construction of the Canal with a Spanish touch, while that the right side represents the French colonial style of architecture. Casa Mallet was completely rebuilt with an occupancy permit dated February 2013.
Our building has 3 floors, in which there are 6 apartments (1, 2 and 3 bedrooms), two commercial premises on the ground floor, a janitor's room and a technical area.
The apartments are fully furnished and all apartments include luxury elements, such as complete premium appliances: dishwasher, Viking gas stoves, electric water heaters, security system with cameras in common areas, intercom, etc. Common areas include residential lobby, elevator, lobbies and circulation areas.
History
revitalized at Casa Mallet
Ever wonder why our building is called Casa Mallet? It was named in honor of Lady Matilde Obarrio de Mallet (1872-1964), remembered both for being the author of the fascinating book "Sketches of Spanish-Colonial Life in Panama, 1672-1821", published in 1915, as well as for being the founder of the Panamanian Red Cross in 1917.
The building, which was renovated in 2013, was actually the meeting place where the first meeting of the future Panamanian Red Cross took place, "at her home located on 6th Street and Avenida B (behind the old French Canal Company building in the old town of Panama City, today Casa Mallet) on January 13th 1917."
DID YOU KNOW?
-
The building was originally two homes and the buildings were known as CARRERA DE CALDAS and NARIÑO in the Colonial period.
-
NIcanor A. de Obarrio, the first owner of these buildings sold them to Lady Mallet and her husband Claude Mallet for $10,000 each house, back in 1906.
-
These buildings were later unified as one home, despite both buildings having drastically different architectural styles.
-
The building on the left was made with Canal wood, and represents the era of the Canal construction, with a touch of Spanish influence, while the right side represents the classic French Baroque architecture, with a very unusual curved balcony.
-
Despite both of these buildings having different heights, they were successfully integrated through its elevators and stairs, as well as to the creation of communal internal space (parking, recreation and storage areas) that helped unify both spaces.
-
Lady Mallet's 1915 book is the only known compilation of daily life in the Spanish colonial period and includes fascinating tidbits, including how face cream was made from eggshells, how the floors were polished with coconut husks and salt water, and how the social classes inevitably evolved with changing politics. While some of her romantizations have aged quite poorly, especially her views around social classes and slavery, they are nonetheless a rare glimpse into a society past, in whose streets we walk today.
-
Casa Mallet is not the only place named after Lady Mallet. Avenue 3B in the San Francisco disrict of Panama City also bears her name (Avenida Matilde Obarrio de Mallet).
Lady Matilde Obarrio de Mallet (1872-1964)
Images taken from Lady Mallet's 1915 book.