La Casita
What began as the purchase of a historic vacation home in Boquete evolved into a bold mission to preserve the town’s heritage and architecture. It all started with a simple yet compelling question: How can one conserve an old house when plans are in motion to build something new in its place?
The solution turned out to be far more creative than anyone could have imagined. Over a cup of highland Panamanian coffee, Mr. Juan Antonio Niño, who had acquired La Casita from its last heirs, Ms. Brenda and Ms. Desiré Pedreschi, decided to donate this architectural gem to Mr. Jorg Senne, a German with an ambitious plan: to move the entire house to his property in Palo Alto, Boquete. The deal was struck with a symbolic dollar and a shared enthusiasm for the project.
However, turning the idea into reality was no small undertaking. What initially seemed like a straightforward plan quickly grew into a complex and rewarding challenge. For nearly three months, a dedicated team of ten workers carefully dismantled every component of the house, from nails to wooden planks, transporting each piece to its new location in Palo Alto.
The work didn’t stop there. Under the leadership of Mr. Nodier Samudio, a group of architects and restoration specialists spent an entire year reassembling the house, navigating a range of technical and logistical hurdles. The effort proved worthwhile: La Casita, once home to notable figures in Boquete’s history, such as Dr. James H. Talboy, Captain Hans Elliot and his wife Vera Janson de Elliot, Dr. Carlos Pedreschi, huaca collector Mae Archer, and Engineer Oscar Alberto Sanberg, was restored to its former glory.
Today, La Casita stands not only as a preserved piece of architecture but as a testament to the town’s rich history, a symbol of both conservation and adventure.
