Hospitality Business Magazine

Top International Design Win for SkyCity’s Metita Restaurant

Architectural interior design agency CTRL Space has received international recognition for its work on Michael Meredith’s Metita, the Pacific-inspired restaurant in Auckland’s SkyCity hotel.

The restaurant has been named Best Australia & Pacific Restaurant in the Hotel Category of the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. Metita was the sole nominee from New Zealand.

Now in its 16th year, the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards are the only awards of their kind dedicated to the recognition of exceptional creative food and beverage spaces all over the world.

Judged by a panel of 37 of the most influential personalities in design, hospitality and lifestyle globally, this annual edition of the Awards attracted 1240 entries from 67 countries.

The judging panel is a heavy-weight line up of international industry leaders including Rika Lisslo, Vice President Development, Hyatt Hotels Corporation; and David Martin, Global Head of Restaurants & Bars, Corinthia Hotels and Aurelie Schwend, Director Interior Design, Luxury Brands, Marriott International, who described Metita’s design as having a ‘ very nice feel and mix of materials, with authentic and crafted details.’

Barcelona venue

CTRL Space’s Founder and Principal, Chris Stevens and Creative Director, Sam Griffin collected the award at a ceremony at the Hoxton Hotel, Poblenou, Barcelona.

Chris Stevens said he was extremely honoured to be recognised by the Restaurant and Bar Design awards and to receive such high praise from the judges.

“This is incredible. We are so proud to represent New Zealand on an international stage such as this. We put our heart and soul into our work and it is extra special that Metita is the recipient of this award. Its design is enduring but importantly, it adds something truly unique to our country’s hospitality landscape, helping to tell the story of Aotearoa’s rich and vibrant culture.”

CTRL Space has studios in Auckland and Brisbane and is the name behind interior works for many of New Zealand’s most well-known and prestigious hospitality venues, hotels and workplaces. The Restaurant and Bar Design Award win follows an Interior Design Award from Architecture NZ, also for Metita and a Best Award for Nightcar.

Overall Winners

Title restaurant & bar in Kuwait.

Title, a restaurant in Sharq, Kuwait designed by Lines and Coffee Bar a bar in Haikou, China designed by One Plus Partnership are the Overall winners of the 2024 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

Another five Overall regional winners and 36 Category winners were announced at the Awards ceremony held at the Hoxton Hotel, Poblenou (Barcelona), with trophy presentations on the night.

The Awards ceremony was followed by the world’s best designers and their clients responsible for the design of the most innovative food and beverage spaces.

Next year’s Restaurant & Bar Design Awards Ceremony (2025) will be held in Dubai.