Description:

Drifter is a new hybrid accommodation model that merges the design expectations of a boutique hotel with the social openness of a hostel. Set within a restored 1910s woollen factory in central Christchurch, it reimagines a heritage building as a layered, experience-led venue for the modern traveller. This is the first in a planned series by Leisure Accommodation Collective, designed to shift how we think about travel; less transactional, more connected.

The brief was to create something affordable but elevated, communal but comfortable. A place where solo travellers, professionals, groups, families and locals could all feel at home, whether they were staying the night or stopping by. The project needed to flex across uses and demographics, blending wellness, work and leisure within a cohesive design framework.

The building, one of the few to survive Christchurch’s 2011 earthquakes, presented both opportunity and constraint. Spatial planning focused on flexibility, with six floors of dorms, private rooms, suites and shared amenities including a social kitchen, cinema, zen room, wellness floor and boardrooms. At street level, the Rambler bar invites the wider community into the space, helping stitch Drifter into the city’s evolving social fabric.
The design takes cues from Bauhaus and Modernist movements, with clean lines and functional forms expressed through tactile finishes. Wool and textiles reference the site’s industrial past, while materials like polished concrete, natural timber and vibrant upholstery bring warmth and personality. A stripped tile floor and oversized ‘HELLO’ sign greet guests on arrival - playful, direct, and unmistakably Drifter.

Original architectural elements were celebrated and repurposed wherever possible. Original structural beams became custom furniture, industrial windows were restored, and heritage marble staircases were integrated into the layout. Local artists and makers were engaged throughout, reinforcing the venue’s cultural and community connection.

Drifter is also a values-led proposition. Sustainability was approached with restraint and pragmatism, reducing waste through reuse and sourcing materials locally to support the creative economy. The result is a venue that feels authentic and generous, built for longevity, relevance and joy.

For Christchurch, it offers something more than accommodation. It’s a cultural anchor, a space that reflects the city’s resilience and looks forward with optimism. It creates opportunity, fosters interaction, and supports the shift toward slower, more meaningful travel.
Drifter isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It knows what it’s about, and for those who find their way through its doors, it offers an experience that’s as real as it is memorable.