Hurtado Home Design

09/27/2026

07/29/2026

Bovedas are magic

Connect with James: https://www.instagram.com/bovedas_anthony/🔗 De...

07/22/2026

Working through a small-home wall section and sizing the south overhang to reduce summer heat gain.

Passive cooling has limits in North Texas. Shading helps, but hot outdoor air still requires some form of active cooling. The goal is to reduce the cooling load, not eliminate it. Figuring out what works best for this climate.

07/15/2026

❤️

12/21/2025

Happy Winter Solstice 🌒

The longest night of the year reminds us that rest is part of the work. In design, in building, and in life, quiet seasons create the conditions for what comes next. Here’s to slower days, deeper warmth, and light returning.

12/18/2025

Mighty Tiny House 💚🏠🤎

Modest in form yet deeply capable at heart, this backyard ADU focuses on doing more with less. The design is compact, affordable, and DIY friendly; featuring eco-conscious materials chosen for performance and efficiency. Compressed earth block walls provide mass and stability that help regulate indoor temperatures year round. Hempcrete insulation and lime plaster finishes contribute to seasonal comfort while preserving breathability.

The result is a space that feels calm, grounded, and secure. Fire resistant. Wind resilient. Built to endure. A humble little home that quietly does a lot.

09/17/2025

What makes a home feel secure? 🏠

Recently, someone asked me about natural building options, and it opened up a bigger reflection on what it means for a home to feel secure and lasting.

Earth has always drawn me in for that reason. The weight of it, the feeling that it could sit quietly for generations without losing its strength. A wall built from earth (earth block, earth bag, rammed earth, etc.) feels like part of the land itself, steady and permanent.

At the same time, I know that every material carries its own spirit. Some homes invite change more easily, while others seem to say, “I am here to stay.” If built well, neither is better or worse, they simply express different values.

For me, choosing earth is about grounding life in something solid. A reminder that home can be more than shelter, it can be a place that endures, rooted in the same soil that holds us up every day. 🌱

What makes a home feel lasting and secure to you?

09/05/2025

Lately I’ve been reflecting on how building a home is as much about patience and steady progress as it is about creativity. Each design choice, each material, adds up to something greater than the sum of its parts. 🧩

One of the reasons I love working with earth block is that it feels timeless, reliable, solid, and enduring. It’s a material that doesn’t rush, yet when the light hits it, it shines with a beauty all its own. ✨

I’m reminded that good design is about showing up with consistency, and letting the work speak for itself in the right moment. ⏳

08/19/2025

Can Thermal Mass keep you cool in the Texas heat? ☀️

A client once asked me if earth block walls really work in Texas, where the forecast usually reads hot, hotter, or hottest. It’s a great question!

The reality is that thermal mass only works when the design is done right. In places with hot days and cool nights, thick walls absorb heat during the day and release it after sunset, keeping interiors comfortable. But in climates like much of Texas, where summer nights stay warm and humidity lingers, mass walls can backfire and act like an oven, slowly cooking the inside of your home. 🧱

Here are 3 smart design tips to keep thermal mass working for you in hot texas climates:

1. Add exterior insulation so the walls work for you - Mass walls work best when they store heat in winter and block it in summer. A breathable insulation layer like rockwool or hemp-lime keeps hot air out and winter warmth in, while still allowing the walls to stabilize daily temperature swings. 🌡️

2. Be strategic with windows and shade – South facing windows can overheat interiors so they need overhangs designed to block equinox-to-equinox warm season sun, while letting in winter sun. West windows, which receive the hottest sun of the day, are best protected with porches, pergolas, or trees. 🌳

3. Plan for ventilation and mechanical cooling – On hot, humid, or cold days, mechanical systems like ERVs keep fresh air circulating while balancing temperature and humidity. Pairing ventilation with mechanical cooling in summer (and supplementary heat in winter) ensures interiors stay consistently comfortable. 💨

With the right details, earth block walls can keep you cool instead of cooked in hot climates!

Visit my website for more tips, link in bio. 🔍



Photos from my personal collection: West, Central, East and North Texas ⭐️