ANACAPA Architecture took home the 7th annual GRAY Awards trophy for their historic building restoration of what is now the Drift Hotel in Santa Barbara.
Photographed by Erin Feinblatt
A dilapidated building in Santa Barbara is reimagined as a hotel, coffee shop, and cocktail bar. Preserving the building’s history, the Drift Hotel connects locals and travelers to its surrounding community of Spanish architectural influences. ANACAPA Architecture, a multidisciplinary design firm based in Santa Barbara, contrasts the traditional exterior of the hotel — its white stucco walls, arched windows, and terracotta tiles — with its modern interiors which are centered around a black color palette with accents of concrete and white-oak elements. The hotel is outfitted with goods from Californian and Mexican makers, paying homage to the brand’s Baja roots while celebrating its coastal Californian locale.
