Kuri Studio: A Hands-On Approach to Sydney Architecture
From physical models to finished spaces, Kuri Studio brings a thoughtful, hands-on approach to residential design.
For architect Christina Sunario, good design begins with understanding how people actually live. As the founder and director of Kuri Studio, a Sydney-based residential architecture practice, she's developed a distinctive approach that combines architecture, craftsmanship and a strong appreciation for simplicity, materiality and human experience.
Established in 2021, Kuri Studio specialises in tailored residential architecture, creating homes and spaces that are practical, considered and responsive to their occupants. Sunario brings more than 15 years' experience in architecture, having worked with award-winning practices in both Jakarta and Sydney before establishing her own studio.
A Thoughtful Approach to Residential Architecture
At the heart of Kuri Studio's design philosophy is an appreciation for the details that shape how we experience a space.
The studio looks closely at proportion, scale, texture, light, shadow and materials to create spaces that feel natural and purposeful. Its approach balances aesthetics with practicality, placing the way people experience and use a space at the centre of the design process.
What sets Kuri Studio's architectural design process apart is its integration of interactive tools, including drawings, physical models and 3D renderings.
Rather than relying solely on digital visualisations, Sunario uses physical architectural models to test ideas spatially and better understand how a finished space might feel.
These models help explore everything from how winter sunlight enters through a window to ceiling heights, facade geometry and the way built-in joinery defines a room. They also allow clients to see how individual design elements come together as a whole.
Bringing Designs to Life
One showcase project, Four Gable House, involved two adjoining terrace houses with different floor levels, a constrained budget and a need to improve circulation and natural light.
Using physical models alongside sketches and 3D renderings, Sunario helped the client reimagine the overall design and better understand how the proposed spaces would work.
“Her attention to detail and thoughtful approach made the entire process seamless and rewarding,” said the Four Gable House client.
“Christina used various presentation methods, each invaluable at different stages of the project. The physical model helped us grasp the overall concept, the sketches clarified scale and perspective, and the 3D renderings allowed us to visualise the fully developed design.”
For Kuri Studio, it's an approach that brings together creativity, practicality and collaboration, helping turn architectural ideas into spaces designed around the people who use them.
Kuri Studio
📍 85 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
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