Cushla Thurston
Associate Director
My interest in architecture was sparked by a talented architect who completely transformed my parents’ home when I was just 12 years of age. Fast forward to today and I’ve now notched up more than 20 years in the industry! My career has led me to work in both New Zealand and the UK. I’ve designed extensively for education, community and cultural sectors. Working in those arenas has enabled me to make real and positive differences to people’s day-to-day lives — that’s what keeps me so energised and enthused about design. Residential design is also a professional and personal passion. My design for Studio Seventy Four was certainly a passion project — initially conceived as a hilltop studio for my artist husband and utilising timber from my father’s own mill. I was pretty delighted when we won Best Designed Stay in New Zealand’s 2021 Airbnb Host Awards.
“When you’re struggling to find an answer to something, question the thing that you thought you knew for sure.”