CTRL Space has been appointed to reimagine a landmark Queenstown accommodation site into a lifestyle-let hospitality destination.
A former hostel in the heart of Queenstown is set to be transformed into a new generation of lifestyle accommodation, with Trans-Tasman design studio CTRL Space appointed to lead the interior design vision for the redevelopment of 46–49 Shotover Street.
The project marks another milestone for the Auckland-founded studio, which recently expanded into Queenstown, complementing its existing studios in Auckland and Brisbane.
Owned by Gaw Capital Partners (GCP), the centrally located property was acquired for approximately NZD 31 million in a highly competitive sale process, with strong interest driven by the rarity of properties of this scale and location coming to market in central Queenstown. The site will be repositioned as a contemporary hybrid hotel designed for a new generation of global travellers.
The four-storey property occupies a 1,000sqm freehold site in the centre of Queenstown and includes active ground-floor retail frontage alongside upper-level visitor accommodation.
CTRL Space founder Chris Stevens said the project represents a shift in how hospitality environments are being designed for younger, more social travellers.
“Hospitality is changing rapidly, particularly with millennial and Gen Z travellers who are placing far greater value on experience, atmosphere and connection than traditional ideas of luxury,” said Stevens.
“What interested us about this project was the opportunity to create something far more layered than a conventional hotel or hostel offering. The ambition is to create a lifestyle-driven destination that feels globally relevant while still being unmistakably Queenstown.”
Rather than relying on surface-level styling, CTRL Space’s design strategy is grounded in a deeply considered architectural approach that puts people at the centre of the project.
Drawing inspiration from international lifestyle hospitality brands such as The Hoxton, the design direction reinterprets Queenstown’s alpine heritage through a contemporary lens, referencing local chalets, schist barns, ski culture and rugged natural textures while balancing social energy with comfort and warmth.
The proposed accommodation model combines lifestyle-focused hotel rooms with premium dorms, alongside communal kitchens, co-working areas, lounges and activated ground-floor hospitality spaces designed to encourage interaction and community.
CTRL Space is known for its behaviour-led approach to hospitality environments, designing spaces around how people gather, move and connect
Stevens said the project reflects a broader global shift toward hybrid hospitality environments that blur the lines between hotel, social hub and flexible living.
“Today’s travellers are incredibly design literate. They want spaces that feel authentic, memorable and connected to place, but they also expect flexibility, technology integration and social connection,” he said.
“Queenstown already attracts an adventurous and globally minded audience, so there’s an opportunity here to create something that genuinely adds to the cultural and hospitality landscape of the town.”
Works are expected to commence in the next month with completion anticipated early 2027.
The project adds to CTRL Space’s growing hospitality and lifestyle portfolio across New Zealand and Australia.
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