HR DESIGN DEPT.

HR DESIGN DEPT. HR DESIGN DEPT is an architecture and design studio in Houston, Texas.

It’s almost that time of year when it’s safe to open doors and windows and enjoy a cup of coffee in Houston! 🍂 The Avond...
09/25/2025

It’s almost that time of year when it’s safe to open doors and windows and enjoy a cup of coffee in Houston! 🍂

The Avondale Residence is a 1910 Craftsman in Houston’s historic Avondale neighborhood. Once the home of Texas governor and founder of Humble Oil, Ross Sterling - the home was saved by Divya Pande and her husband Nakul Gupta. The project received a 2022 Design Award, and a 2023 Good Brick Award. More on this beautiful renovation in , and on our website - links in bio.

🏠 Avondale Residence
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Don’t miss Karin Broker’s newest body of work, *beautiful rage (a real and concise history of the female gender)*. Openi...
09/04/2025

Don’t miss Karin Broker’s newest body of work, *beautiful rage (a real and concise history of the female gender)*. Opening this Saturday, Sept 6th at , her intricate large scale drawings chronicle the emotional and physical labor women carry daily.

Karin’s drawing process (assisted by Barbara Inaba) is both messy and methodical - fitting work to take place in her studio that was once an auto mechanic’s shop. Today her powerful portraits of womanhood tower above the ghosted outline of car lifts on her studio floors. Organized drawers of vintage oddities, pencils and wires have replaced wrenches and lug nuts. The award winning 6,000 sf warehouse was renovated into her studio and home in 2016 while we were at Content and again in 2020 by HRDD.

Heidi Vaughan Fine Art is located at 3510 Lake St., Houston, TX 77098 in Houston’s oldest Gallery Row. The doors open at 11. The artist’s reception and party will take place from 5 to 7.

Exhibition Dates: September 6 - October 11, 2025

Exhibition Opening: September 6, 11 to 5, HVFA

Artist Reception and Party: September 6, 5 to 7, HVFA


Photo 1:
Delz Images:

The attic at the Joyce Residence was cleverly carved out to create light filled spaces for crafts and play.  • This proj...
08/29/2025

The attic at the Joyce Residence was cleverly carved out to create light filled spaces for crafts and play.

This project received an design award in 2024 and was featured in (link in bio).

Builder: Structural: Santee Engineering Energy: Photos:

The Hart Residence kitchen is a true workhorse, thoughtfully designed for both family life and entertaining. A streamlin...
07/18/2025

The Hart Residence kitchen is a true workhorse, thoughtfully designed for both family life and entertaining. A streamlined layout maximizes function, with generous storage, ample seating, and features like a bar, double ovens, pot filler, mixer lift, glass rinser, ice maker, and beverage cooler. Just beyond, a discreet scullery conceals the oversized refrigerator from view and houses a spacious pantry along with storage for small appliances—keeping the main living areas clean and clutter-free.

Builder: , Structural: , Photos:

At the Wimberley Residence - the kids’ bunk room is both playful and sophisticated. •                 •Construction:
03/25/2025

At the Wimberley Residence - the kids’ bunk room is both playful and sophisticated.



Construction:

This weekend, Eric and his family visited Antonio’s House in Brenham, Texas. Inspired by classic, early Texas pioneer ho...
03/18/2025

This weekend, Eric and his family visited Antonio’s House in Brenham, Texas. Inspired by classic, early Texas pioneer homes, this gem was designed by Leslie Elkins in 2011. Over the years, Eric was asked to design the utilitarian interiors, and the pedestrian gate - a minimal intervention on axis with the home’s dog trot. Just last year, HRDD designed a new entry canopy. The simple shed is supported by a steel post and lintel that echoes the earlier entry gate threshold.

This weekend, Eric and his family visited Antonio’s House in Brenham, Texas. Inspired by classic, early Texas pioneer homes, this gem was designed by Leslie Elkins in 2011 . As one approaches the property from the road and the house comes into view through the trees on the other side of two smal

Last week we experienced the rare Houston joy of waking to a snowy blanket covering our roofs and lawns. The storm slowe...
01/29/2025

Last week we experienced the rare Houston joy of waking to a snowy blanket covering our roofs and lawns. The storm slowed our normal routines and gave way to a day of snowmen, hot chocolate, and winter wonder. Here’s a few images that capture HRDD projects on that special day!

Casa Topo images by
Avondale Residence captured by
Joyce Residence by
Menil ADUs sent to us by

The Wimberley Residence acts as both a threshold and transect of its quiet Hill Country site. We can’t wait for these am...
10/18/2024

The Wimberley Residence acts as both a threshold and transect of its quiet Hill Country site. We can’t wait for these amazing clients to be able to move into their new retreat! So close!!!!
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Yesterday was a an exciting day as we made our final construction site visit to the Hart Residence and  handed over the ...
08/29/2024

Yesterday was a an exciting day as we made our final construction site visit to the Hart Residence and handed over the keys to our clients, Kyle and Lori. We couldn’t be prouder of this entire project team - clients, consultants, builders and tradespeople truly worked hard and collaboratively to bring this project to fruition! Looking forward to sharing more soon!

Builder: , Structural: Holland Engineering, LLC, Landscape: Landscape Creations LLC,

This project emerged from a competition hosted by the Menil Foundation, which sought innovative designs for accessory dw...
08/23/2024

This project emerged from a competition hosted by the Menil Foundation, which sought innovative designs for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to diversify tenant demographics and increase density within their campus’ rental stock, which predominantly consists of single-family bungalows. Winning this competition awarded the commission to design two new ADUs on conjoined properties, and fully renovate the accompanying bungalows.

Located on two standard Houston lots, the four rental structures share a cohesive design language characterized by understated exteriors, modest scale, and light-filled interiors. The new ADUs would be easy to overlook from the tree-lined streets of the campus. Capped by hip roofs that recede asymmetrically away from the drive, the simple hardie-clad structures are interrupted by two formal insertions.

Playful dinosaur pads within the “shared private” corridor stitch the bungalows to the rear ADUs. They provide a flexible, semi-permeable hardscape surface that can be used for vehicular turn-around, an additional parking space, or shared outdoor patio space between the four tenants.

We’re excited to share that this project was recently awarded a 2024 AIA Houston Design Award.


📷: ; structural: ; landscape: .__ ; builder: |

With a goal to create compelling, budget-friendly spaces, the Menil bungalows and ADUs design prioritizes spatial qualit...
08/21/2024

With a goal to create compelling, budget-friendly spaces, the Menil bungalows and ADUs design prioritizes spatial quality and natural light over high-end, costly construction materials. Each unit features a unique vaulted skylight, creating a dynamic spatial experience at the center of each residence.

The floor plans of the existing bungalows were re-organized and simplified to create open living spaces with abundant daylighting. Original hardwood flooring was patched and refinished. The envelope was updated with new siding, windows, insulation (including a sealed attic), and roof. Simple, but ample millwork strategies helped keep the project in budget while providing plenty of storage within the homes’ compact footprints.

We’re excited to share that this project was recently awarded a 2024 Design Award!

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📷: ; structural: ; builder: |

Our  projects, completed this year, are part of an initiative to densify the Menil campus by adding accessory dwelling u...
08/19/2024

Our projects, completed this year, are part of an initiative to densify the Menil campus by adding accessory dwelling units behind the neighborhood’s iconic grey bungalows. Our task was to renovate two of the original bungalows and design two new rentable ADU units.

The new ADUs were designed to be modest backdrops to the tree-lined streets of the campus. Capped by hip roofs that recede asymmetrically away from the driveways, the simple hardie-clad structures are interrupted by two formal insertions. Volume and light become the unexpected showcase on the upper level of the ADUs. Ceilings follow the roof line and arrive at filtered light chimneys. Common spaces are stitched under the punctured volume of the splayed ceiling and offer spacious impressions of the units.

We’re excited to share that this project was recently awarded a 2024 Design Award!

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📷: ; structural: ; builder: |

Address

1429 Oleander Street, Ste A
Houston, TX
77009

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