French and American influences combined with a distinct local Caribbean flavour to produce a unique mix of Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture. The majority of the structures were built in the 18th, 19th and 20th century and are considered to be well-designed and structurally sound. Notably, the neighborhood is home to a number of famous architectural landmarks including the Presidential Palace, the National Theater, the National Cathedral, the Ministry of Government and Justice, the French Embassy, and several of Panama's most important churches.

The scale of buildings is much smaller than that of the central business district. The typical structure is 3-4 stories tall and thus has influenced the size of the redevelopment within Casco Viejo.

The neighborhood had retained its 16th century spanish colonial blocks and quadrants with sidewalks, which is easily navigable on foot and provides a good framework for developing ground floor stores and restaurants.

After a series of fires, destructions and reconstructions over the centuries, what remains of the originally walled city today dates back to the 1850s to 1930. The only remnants from its colonial period is the typical urban grid, with its iconic churches and plazas (Tejeira Davis, 2007).