energy-led tropical
architecture.
entrópica is a tropical architecture studio in panamá. the sun, the heat, and the humidity determine the energy cost of a project. that is our starting point for design.
the things temperate-climate practice treats as afterthoughts, shade, airflow, moisture, energy, are, for us, the design material itself. the building is not a container for performance. the performance is the building.
designing from the climate has measurable results.
ignoring the climate has measurable results too.
of a building's operating cost is cooling.*
what if it were half of that, or less?
* ashrae · iea cooling report, 2024.
we design with energy simulations, to avoid:
because you wouldn't build without knowing how the building will look, even just from a render. same thing, but for energy.
architectural services, energy-led.
from concept to construction, the energy model is in the conversation.
data-informed project feasibility
energy is money, and money drives feasibility. early energy models translate climate, envelope, and operations into the unit the pro-forma speaks.
concept design
orientation, massing, and program tested against the climate before the section is committed.
architectural design + coordination
full architectural delivery, including complementary engineering disciplines.
permitting + documentation
construction documents that pass review and that the contractor can actually build.
energy + performance advisory
envelope simulation, daylight studies, leed / edge support, as a standalone or in-house service.
some of the clients we've earned.
- promotora azul rubí
- linton bay
- regor assets
- global bank
- festieventos
- jolly roger diving
- atn polaris
- servicios carlos
- estrella azul
- us pharmacy group
- kart 21
- esa flaca rica
- eurostone
- current technologies
- agrupetrol
- donde josé
- fonda lo que hay
- durán coffee select
- wall st. bar and lounge
- lung fung
- dainer 16
- hostales selina
- wirtschaftsuniversität wien
- santuario nacional
- anep
- universidad de panamá
- municipio de san miguelito
- ministerio público
- soba design
- rancho grande
- george moreno & partners
- labhaus studio
- forza creativa
- sousa design architects boston
josé barría.
registered architect and founder of entrópica, a studio guided by energy performance in tropical climates.
his work spans the americas, asia, africa, and europe. he taught and researched at the panamá green building council in 2013, co-founded pentagrama estudio de diseño in 2015, and in 2018 co-founded acta, panamá's first sustainable innovation zone. since 2026, he is part of mat, the tropical architecture movement. outside entrópica, he is a partner at trimpacta, the corporate side of the same problem: water footprint, carbon, and sustainability reporting.
more about the studio