{"id":1950,"date":"2025-08-15T06:45:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T06:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/?p=1950"},"modified":"2025-08-18T10:23:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T10:23:14","slug":"ignacio-urquiza-and-ana-paula-de-alba-set-sand-toned-monolithic-restaurant-on-mexicos-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/15\/ignacio-urquiza-and-ana-paula-de-alba-set-sand-toned-monolithic-restaurant-on-mexicos-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"ignacio urquiza and ana paula de alba set sand-toned monolithic restaurant on mexico\u2019s coast"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rubra Restaurant merges Coast Landscape with Concrete Design<\/h2>\n

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Rubra is a restaurant<\/a><\/strong> on Mexico\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> Pacific coast designed by Ana Paula de Alba and Ignacio Urquiza for chef Daniela Soto-Innes. The project integrates architecture, landscape, and gastronomy through a spatial composition defined by material uniformity and precise planning. Constructed entirely from sand-toned concrete<\/a><\/strong>, the monolithic structure establishes continuity with its natural surroundings.<\/p>\n

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Located on the Punta Mita peninsula at the edge of Banderas Bay, the site is approached along a path bordered by dense vegetation, accessible on foot, by bicycle, or by golf cart. The route leads to a blind facade, concealing the interior spaces from immediate view. Entry is through a low tunnel, 2.1 meters in height and 6 meters in length, which opens onto a main terrace with views of the Sierra Madre Occidental and the bay. The project is photographed by Rafael Gamo<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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all images by Rafael Gamo<\/a>, courtesy of Ignacio Urquiza<\/a> and Ana Paula de Alba<\/a><\/p>\n

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Concrete Volumes and Light Shape Rubra\u2019s Adaptive Dining Space<\/h2>\n

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The program, arranged by the collaborative team<\/a><\/strong> of Ignacio Urquiza and Ana Paula de Alba, is organized within a series of concrete volumes of varying heights and dimensions, housing the open kitchen, wine cellar, and bar. Integrated flowerbeds double as seating areas. The layout orients openings toward the surrounding landscape while maintaining visual privacy from built structures. Cross ventilation is facilitated by strategically positioned apertures, and a large column-free space, measuring 10 by 15 meters, that sits beneath a roof supported by a pergola grid and wooden lattices, allowing diffuse daylight to filter through.<\/p>\n

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Enclosure is adaptable: a sliding glass facade enables the main dining area to be sealed for climate control while retaining a visual connection to the exterior. The stained and textured concrete, developed in collaboration with Pablo Kobayashi, references the color and texture of sand. Rounded corners soften the geometry, drawing from architectural traditions of Mexico\u2019s Pacific coast.<\/p>\n

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sand-toned concrete volumes define Rubra\u2019s architectural language<\/p>\n

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Native Planting Connects Rubra\u2019s Interior to Its Coastal Setting<\/h2>\n

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The furniture, co-designed by Ana Paula de Alba and the studio, is made from wood in tones that harmonize with the concrete and surrounding vegetation. Interior landscaping by Thalia Davidoff incorporates endemic plant species, creating continuity between the built space and the Nayarit jungle. Custom elements extend to tableware, lighting, and service accessories, produced by collaborators including Claire Lippman (CHerie), Nouvel Glass, Mauviel, and Carlos Matos. Through the consistent use of a single material, a restrained palette, and integration with the local landscape, Rubra creates a setting where spatial qualities and natural elements frame the dining experience.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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the restaurant integrates architecture, landscape, and gastronomy<\/p>\n

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concrete volumes house the open kitchen, wine cellar, and bar<\/p>\n

\t<\/p>\n

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\t\t\"rubra-sand-toned-monolithic-restaurant-ignacio-urquiza-ana-paula-de-alba-mexico-pacific-coast-designboom-1800-3\"<\/p>\n

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openings frame the surrounding landscape while ensuring privacy<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/p>\n

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stained and textured concrete references the color of sand<\/p>\n

\"\"
cross ventilation is achieved through strategic apertures<\/p>\n

\"\"
a column-free roof spans a 10-by-15-meter dining space<\/p>\n

\"\"
wooden lattices filter daylight through a pergola grid<\/p>\n

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wooden furniture complements the concrete\u2019s tonal palette<\/p>\n

\t<\/p>\n

\n

\t\t\"rubra-sand-toned-monolithic-restaurant-ignacio-urquiza-ana-paula-de-alba-mexico-pacific-coast-designboom-1800-2\"<\/p>\n

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endemic plants create continuity with the Nayarit jungle<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/p>\n

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custom-designed accessories complete the interior scheme<\/p>\n

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a restrained palette and single material unify the design<\/p>\n

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project info:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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name:<\/strong>\u00a0Rubra<\/p>\n

architects: <\/strong>Ignacio Urquiza Architecture<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0@ignaciourquiza.mx<\/a>, Ana Paula de Alba |\u00a0@apda.mx<\/a><\/p>\n

lead architects:<\/strong> Ignacio Urquiza y Ana Paula de Alba<\/p>\n

design team:<\/strong> Michela Lostia di Santa Sofia, Aida Hurtado, Salvador Hurtado<\/p>\n

landscape designer:<\/strong> Thalia Divadoff<\/p>\n

concrete specialist:<\/strong> Pablo Kobayashi<\/p>\n

interior designer:<\/strong> Ana Paula de Alba<\/p>\n

furniture:<\/strong> Ana Paula de Alba, Ignacio Urquiza, Rituales Contempor\u00e1neos<\/p>\n

lightning designer:<\/strong> ILWT, Miguel \u00c1ngel Vega<\/p>\n

photographer:<\/strong> Rafael Gamo<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0@rafael_gamo<\/a><\/p>\n

model<\/strong> photographer:<\/strong> Ignacio Urquiza y Ana Paula de Alba<\/p>\n

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designboom has received this project from our\u00a0<\/i>DIY submissions<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u00a0feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers\u00a0<\/i>here.<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom<\/i><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

The post ignacio urquiza and ana paula de alba set sand-toned monolithic restaurant on mexico\u2019s coast<\/a> appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rubra Restaurant merges Coast Landscape with Concrete Design   Rubra […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1950"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1950"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1964,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1950\/revisions\/1964"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}