Welcome to RUBI Architects
Here at RUBI Architects, we’re a cohesive collective of passionate creatives. Working together with our individual skill sets and personalities – to respectfully listen, learn and to achieve the very best outcome with every project that crosses our desk.
Welcome to RUBI Architects
Here @rubiarchitects, we’re a cohesive collective of passionate creatives. Working together with our individual skill sets and personalities – to respectfully listen, learn and to achieve the very best outcome with every project that crosses our desk.
Creating spaces that people want to live in.
For architect Alex Rubilar and his business partner Antonio La Torre, a building designer and construction manager, the pleasure of architecture comes from working with great people and, importantly, great clients. To see ideas transformed into the built form, whether it be a new house, a renovation to an existing home, or designing apartments, it’s the process as much as the end result that continues to inspire them and their team – working from both their South Yarra and Geelong Waterfront offices. And for Rubilar, who established RUBI Architects in 2017, the trajectory has been extremely rewarding.
Graduating in architecture from Deakin University in Geelong in 2013, it’s a long way from Rubilar’s initial start – building houses in America after migrating from Chile (he initially studied veterinary medicine). While some would have found the transition from veterinary science to building houses a major shift in direction, for Rubilar it was the pleasure of working with his hands and building a house from the ground up – including concreting, roofing, plastering or joinery (the electricals and plumbing being the exception).
And while Rubilar could have easily continued on this path, building predominantly palatial homes in New Jersey, he migrated Down Under to be close to his wife’s family. And although not formally trained in construction, the extensive experience he gained from his time in the United States presented him with enormous opportunities in the construction industry – initially working as an estimator for a building/engineering company.
However, keen to pursue a career in architecture, a lifelong ambition, Rubilar undertook a TAFE course in Building Design which led to him enrolling in architecture at Deakin University – fascinated as much by the history as exploring the possibility of working with new materials. After working for a number of award-winning practices both in Melbourne and also in Geelong, it was time to establish his own practice. And while architects often tend to cover the broader design spectrum, including commercial and institutional projects, for RUBI Architects, the focus has been on residential work – whether it’s a new house, a renovation to an existing home or designing housing projects and refined apartment buildings.
For Rubilar and his team, this residential focus has an immense impact on people’s lives – how they choose to live both now and into the future and seeing how a family grows and evolves in a space. It’s also about these memories and as importantly, the values that clients as well as architects, hold dear. And unlike larger commercial projects that can be repetitive in their delivery, with bespoke residential work each design is unique, capturing the essence of the client and the initial brief. And it was timely when La Torre joined the practice in 2018, having moved from Queensland to Geelong, that the duo established their partnership.
For Rubilar and La Torre, RUBI Architects isn’t simply about coming up with great ideas, although this is certainly a key driver in the practice. It’s also paramount to deliver on those ideas and be proud of what can be achieved, whether the project is located on the Bellarine Peninsula, such as Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale, or even Lorne and Apollo Bay, in South Yarra, Hawthorn, Malvern, South Melbourne, Elwood, Balwyn or Toorak – some of the areas where RUBI Architects’ shingle can be seen.
We believe in great design ... but we're also realists (and that's a good thing)
That’s why we have a hands-on directorial team with equal strengths in architecture and construction management. Their diversity of skills and global experience give you confidence you’re receiving top-tier service from an approachable team. Alex and Antonio are with you for the life of your project, openly sharing their design and technical insights.
Alex enriches projects with his experience designing high-end projects all over the globe. Originally from Chile, he discovered his calling to be an architect while building custom houses in the USA. His work as an architect has seen him designing boutique residential and commercial projects in the USA, detailed homes in Tokyo and award-winning projects across Melbourne and Geelong.
Even though he’s our lead design thinker, Alex’s experience working on the tools as a builder gives him a clear idea of how designs come to life onsite. His other strength is his ability to listen and understand what you want from your project and why that is important.
Master of Architecture
Bachelor of Design (Architecture)
Diploma of Building Design and Technology
Growing up in the rich, textured surrounds southern Spain, Antonio developed an appreciation for architecture at a young age. He worked in construction management in Spain and Chile before calling Australia home, where has overseen the development of multi-residential projects. Having ushed projects into existence all over the world, Antonio has the ability to look at problems from fresh new perspectives.
Antonio is our project manager and he develops clear project documentation with a level of detail that builders thank him for. We call Antonio the triple threat – because in addition to his construction management and documentation strengths, he also has a Diploma of Accounting, so you know you can trust his numbers.
Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management)
Diploma of Building Design
Diploma of Accounting
Certified Passive House Designer
Living in an architect-designed home can certainly ignite a flame to pursue a career in architecture. For designer Diana Arden, Principal Design Manager at RUBI Architects, her late 1950s family home, designed by the eminent Melbourne architect Neil Clerehan, certainly made a huge impact on her as a teenager. The house, elevated above the site and framed by courtyards, left an indelible mark.
Diana is a versatile and innovative Design & Project Manager with a track record of driving projects forward. Combining 10+ years of Australian and international project delivery experience within Architecture, Master Planning, and Interior Design.
Master of Science (Project Management)
Bachelor of Design (Architecture)
Danielle has had almost 20 years within the interior design, furniture design, media and architecture industries. Driven by a passion to represent the very best in their areas of expertise, not just for their quality of work as leaders in their field, but also for their ability to relate on a human level. Danielle has great belief in all that RUBI architects offer and takes pride in introducing their work and projects to the world.
Anna has architecture in the blood with both parents being architects. By the time she learned to walk, they’d already established their small firm in her hometown in the Philippines. A few years later, Anna’s brother passed his architecture board exam, and he became an architect as well. You could say she followed in their footsteps the whole way through! Anna studied her Bachelors in 2009 in the Philippines at Ateneo de Davao University – graduating in 2014 and apprenticed for her dad for 2 years before taking her licensure exam in 2016. Her parents encouraged her to take her Master’s degree and in 2019, she decided to study her masters in Australia at Deakin University in Geelong.
Samuel began studying for a Bachelor of Design (Architecture) at Deakin University in 2020 and he is still studying to complete his degree. The most enjoyable part of the course for Sam, is the process of design and developing a concept into a finished product.
Mark’s understanding and experience – from where we are now and where you want to go with @rubiarchitects. It’s fundamental to the design of our business and personal financial strategy.
Allisha’s attention to detail and manner in keeping the numbers clear and tracking forward is critical to our success, her expertise is of great value to us.
Danielle has had almost 20 years within the interior design, furniture design, media and architecture industries. Driven by a passion to represent the very best in their areas of expertise, not just for their quality of work as leaders in their field, but also for their ability to relate on a human level. Danielle has great belief in all that RUBI architects offer and takes pride in introducing their work and projects to the world.
Anna has architecture in the blood with both parents being architects. By the time she learned to walk, they’d already established their small firm in her hometown in the Philippines. A few years later, Anna’s brother passed his architecture board exam, and he became an architect as well. You could say she followed in their footsteps the whole way through! Anna studied her Bachelors in 2009 in the Philippines at Ateneo de Davao University – graduating in 2014 and apprenticed for her dad for 2 years before taking her licensure exam in 2016. Her parents encouraged her to take her Master’s degree and in 2019, she decided to study her masters in Australia at Deakin University in Geelong.
Samuel began studying for a Bachelor of Design (Architecture) at Deakin University in 2020 and he is still studying to complete his degree. The most enjoyable part of the course for Sam, is the process of design and developing a concept into a finished product.
Mark’s understanding and experience – from where we are now and where you want to go with @rubiarchitects. It’s fundamental to the design of our business and personal financial strategy.
Allisha’s attention to detail and manner in keeping the numbers clear and tracking forward is critical to our success, her expertise is of great value to us.
Great design is buildable design
Here’s the thing; good architecture does not need to be pretentious in complexity or novelty in order to be experiential. We believe good design balances sustainability, craftsmanship and the wellbeing of people. It prioritises locally sourced materials, flows with the rhythm of life and makes a positive contribution to a neighbourhood.
