LA UNICA QUERETARO

This project was born from a challenge: a beautiful, old house with a poorly thought-out two-story design and layout needed to be converted into a contemporary cantina with a private bar and terrace. We had to salvage most of the existing structure and allocate the budget to create the magic inside, implementing efficient use of materials and meticulous design strategies to create a coherent space.
La Única Restaurants brings a new Mexican cantina format to the table, serving a variety of dishes from the sea and land in a diverse setting.
When we were approached to design the Querétaro branch, we wanted to ensure we embodied the brand's eclectic style while also creating moments that would be a focal point and convivial. Once inside, we started with the bar, since everything begins at the bar. This space had to feel private, but not isolated, so we created a spacious space with deep, highly contrasting colors like green and red. The use of wood, not only in the texture of the bar but also in the restaurant as a whole, allows us to provide a warm space, but also with cleaner acoustics for diners.
The main dining room would serve groups of different sizes and for all types of occasions, making flow logistics a priority; it was important that our guests feel encouraged to explore the different environments.
The selection of materials had to balance function, durability, sustainability, and aesthetics. The height of the ceiling gives us a pleasant spaciousness, and we continued to lighten the space with glass, mirrors, and the grille on the wine storage doors, giving greater dimension. We illuminated these spaces to add to this depth, as well as creating a scale of lighting in the room, with different tones and uses, creating a welcoming result, yet with good visibility for all diners.
We see green in various shades repeated throughout the restaurant, from the bottle-green tiles above the bar to the dry green of the benches and chairs. The leather-backed booths provide comfortable, stylish niches and a horizontal line that guides the eye through the space.
The terrace works in any climate, and the different areas offer privacy and conviviality. The house was transformed into its best version. The interior design achieved a balance between traditional and modern, promoting contemporary Mexico and providing a welcoming space.