Ana Paula de Alba and Ignacio Urquiza have designed Rubra, a discreet, monolithic restaurant in Desarrollo Costa, Mexico.

Rubra is a restaurant on Mexico's Pacific coast that merges architecture, landscape and gastronomy into a singular, contemplative experience.

Built from a single material – sand-toned concrete – its monolithic volumes integrate with the natural surroundings.

A precise spatial layout, custom furniture and endemic vegetation shape an immersive atmosphere, while strategic openings promote cross ventilation and frame views onto the jungle and sea.

Rubra eliminates excess to enhance the culinary experience, offering a flexible and perfectly balanced environment where food, light and nature are in quiet dialogue.

This project has been longlisted in the hospitality project category of Dezeen Awards 2025.

Studio: Ana Paula de Alba and Ignacio Urquiza
Project: Rubra
Credits: Michela Lostia di Santa Sofia, Aida Hurtado, Salvador Hurtado, Thalia Divadoff, Pablo Kobayashi, Rituales Contemporáneos, ILWT and Miguel Ángel Vega