Heilman Architecture

I’m recalibrating my direction, my firm’s direction. I’m shifting how I approach design and my business model. After 20 years of practice, I think the focus of the firm is conventional. I need to adjust our focus to another story.

My family story was unconventional. I grew up in the 70’s traveling throughout the United State in a VW bus with my parents and living in low budget communal environments from Florida to California. They were on a committed quest for the unconventional Hip lifestyle. It was dynamic but unfounded and difficult for a pre-teen / teenager to latch onto anything in a fleeting flow from place to place where each stay lasted 6-8 months or a year, at most.

This caused me to adapt, conform and quickly assimilate into each place; only to pick up what little I was able to keep and move on. This affected me. I think I wanted to please everyone to try and quickly establish a foothold in a destination that until I was 16 was ephemeral. I needed the sameness and stability.

After 20 years, I have come to terms with the fact that pleasing, safe, comfortable architecture is not a goal, but a reaction. In an odd way, I have reacted to the need to establish myself, my firm, to fit in, by limiting the dynamic elements of my story. I quickly adapted to my reactionary model by fitting in. I became good at many types of architecture and have a successful practice. I was safe in design and business decisions and could always find reasons to limit myself. Many times the reasons were concrete, but many were self imposed.

The other story started in college when I pushed the limits in design to create and challenge convention. I worked hard to find the limits and push at them. I tested conventional methods and found alternate solution and exciting design possibilities as I settled in to academia.

Professionally, I had a few striking examples of buildings that peek above the veil of safe comfortability and they were nurtured by strong clients that pushed me. For the most part I have been diligently pursuing a safe, compatible business model.

I’ve decided to recalibrate my direction, my firm’s direction, my design direction. I think I have come to terms with conventional design and have a wealth of experience. The next step is to reassert the value of quality design and innovation in future projects. I can do what easily fits in, but I’m choosing to add to the story. Look for unconventional, adaptable, contrasting architecture that steps out of the ordinary.

The new “Hospice Residence” building is to begin construction early in January. The house was purchased in December and is projected to begin providing care to patients early 2010.

Up to six patients will reside in the residence where they can receive interim care prior to entering the Hospice House where a higher level of end of life care is required. It is located on 2.5 acres of wooded property with patient and service access to the current campus amenities.

We are a Hospice architect and specialize in Hospice design.

We have completed work on the Orlando Sleep Disorder Clinic’s new office in Baldwin Park, Orlando, Florida. It was a pleasure to work with a such a wonderful group while teaming with Jim Macon Building Contractor’s. we have a successful history teaming with Jim.

Avatar Solivita 2005-2007