CTRL Space has been praised at the Australasia-Pacific Hotel Design Awards, taking home the coveted Hotel of the Year - Conversion award.
Trans-Tasman architectural interior design agency CTRL Space has been honoured with the Hotel of The Year – Conversion award at the 2025 Australasia-Pacific Hotel Design Awards for its work with client Leisure Accommodation Collective (LACo) on the hybrid-hotel, Drifter Christchurch. The winners were announced at the 2025 Design Inn Symposium, which was held at Hilton Adelaide on Tuesday, May 6.
The awards are a celebration of excellence and innovation in hotel interior design projects in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific and recognise exceptional new-build, conversion, and refurbishment projects completed and opened during 2024.
“Within one of the heritage buildings that thankfully survived the Christchurch earthquakes, designers CTRL Space have created a boutique hotel that offers both shared and private guest rooms, and that also celebrates social interaction,” the judges said.
“Retained heritage features, quirky modern additions, and an unashamed bold use of colour combine to create an exciting new accommodation offering for central Christchurch that is a whole lot of fun.”
In addition, Drifter Christchurch was named a runner-up in the Select-Service category at the prestigious Hospitality Design (HD) Awards in Las Vegas, held the same week. The HD Awards honour the best in global hospitality design, with the Drifter Christchurch project standing out among a competitive international field.
CTRL Space’s design for Drifter Christchurch is a flagship for the new Drifter brand – an exciting hybrid-hotel concept that blends social energy with high design, targeted at modern travellers seeking a sense of community without compromising on quality. The Christchurch property captures this spirit through an adaptive re-use of existing structures, layered textures, and a warm, tactile aesthetic that speaks to the local context while feeling globally relevant.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see Drifter Christchurch recognised on a global stage. We’ve always believed in designing spaces that feel personal, memorable, and authentic—and it’s amazing to see that philosophy resonate internationally,” said Chris Stevens, Founder of CTRL Space.
“From the outset, the vision for Drifter Christchurch was to create a space that celebrates connection – between people, place, and design. We wanted to challenge the norms of hybrid accommodation and build something truly fresh. These accolades are a reflection of the trust and ambition shared with our clients at LACo,” said Sam Griffin, Creative Director at CTRL Space and design lead on the project.
The Drifter Christchurch project marks the beginning of a close and ongoing collaboration between CTRL Space and LACo, who are driving the rollout of the Drifter brand across Australasia. With Drifter Melbourne set to open next month, followed by Wellington later this year and Auckland firmly on the radar, this win marks a significant milestone in what promises to be an exciting and impactful partnership.
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