Project Info
Project Name: Rubia Café
Location: Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia
Architects: pcg. Architects
The skylit industrial warehouse volume is softened by natural light and greenery, creating a warm community hub
Tucked into Moorabbin’s industrial landscape, Rubia Café by pcg. Architects reimagines a mid-20th-century warehouse as a sophisticated yet welcoming hub. The goal was not simply to preserve the old building, but to elevate it — turning storage and factory space into a vibrant café, roastery, and office all at once. pcg. Architects crafted this transformation with a clear eye on authenticity, functionality, and the spirit of craft.
On entering the café, visitors meet a dramatic double-height volume framed by exposed brick, steel beams, and soaring ceilings. The roastery occupies a prominent position behind a vast glass wall, allowing guests to observe the entire coffee-making process. This transparency feels intentional — it celebrates the heart of the business, letting roasting become part of the daily choreography, not hidden behind closed doors.
Warm timber walls and a cloud of industrial pendants celebrate the craft of coffee
The material palette supports this industrial legacy while adding warmth and refinement. The design team used off-form concrete for structural surfaces, paired with rugged block work and the cool strength of steel. Timber cladding softens the composition, particularly around seating areas, bringing a tactile dimension to the architecture. These materials, in concert, articulate the building’s original character and newly layered life.
A clear material dialogue layers warm timber against the raw, industrial honesty of concrete and marble
Parking space in front of the warehouse did not simply remain. Instead, pcg. Architects repurposed it into an outdoor seating zone. Laser-cut metal screens define the area, giving it edge and texture without overpowering the simple geometry of the façade. This outdoor space creates a natural extension of the café, inviting guests to linger, chat, or simply enjoy the morning light.
Laser-cut screens and concrete planters define zones within the warm, industrial-heritage space
Upstairs on the first floor, the design shifts to a more focused atmosphere. A boardroom and offices accommodate Rubia Coffee Pty Ltd’s team, integrating work and hospitality under the same roof. A kitchenette and toilet complete the program, making this floor fully functional for business purposes. The architects carefully laid out this mix of functions so that private work zones and public café spaces remain distinct yet interrelated.
Industrial coffee machinery is displayed as art, celebrating the craft and heritage of the roastery
Lighting in the space is considered, not contrived. Natural daylight filters in through high windows, illuminating both the café and roastery equally. In the evening, steel-frame light fixtures produce soft ambient light, casting subtle shadows on textured surfaces. This lighting strategy enhances the material contrasts and underlines the dual roles of the building.
Layers of industrial-inspired craft, concrete, and greenery create a warm, tactile community hub
Furniture and fixtures feel intentional. Concrete seating, paired with timber benches, offers a sturdy yet comfortable place to sit. Metal shelving and bar elements reflect the industrial bones of the structure, while softer finishes on tabletops help guests feel grounded. Every piece seems chosen to support the building’s material honesty without pulling focus away from its spatial clarity.
Pivoting steel doors mark the industrial-heritage entrance, balancing raw concrete and warm timber
Sustainability played a role in the design process. Reusing much of the warehouse structure avoided unnecessary demolition. The robust materials chosen — concrete, steel, and permanent timber — promise longevity. By layering new functions into an existing shell, pcg. Architects reduce resource waste and embrace the building’s history in a meaningful way.
What makes Rubia Café especially compelling is how it brings people together. Here, coffee lovers, roasters, and company staff share a place. This is not merely a café but a working environment that fosters community, creativity, and daily rituals. The architecture supports lingering and interaction, providing an environment that feels both industrious and warm.
A transparent entrance reveals the warm, timber-clad volume, unified by a dramatic industrial light canopy
In reimagining this warehouse, pcg. Architects have created more than a business space. They have crafted a place rooted in memory, shaped by purpose, and open to human experience. Rubia Café now stands as a testament to how adaptive architecture can re-energize heritage structures and invite new life into old walls.
PHOTO CREDIT: Matthew Mallett
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