After battling illnesses caused by living and working in a building plagued with arsenic, lead and mold, Dr. Elizabeth Trattner made it her mission to create a nontoxic building unlike anything else in the country. The doctor of Chinese and integrative medicine accomplished that feat with Helia House, her new healing oasis nestled in North Miami.
“I scoured the country for the healthiest, nontoxic, green materials available,” Trattner says. “Everything from the floor to the ceiling, doors, sealants and insulation was selected in collaboration with an environmentalist.”
The midcentury modern building boasts a special air filtration system that kills viruses and bacteria as well as a water filtration system that eliminates harmful chemicals. More than 1,000 crystals are embedded throughout the structure for an energizing effect, while wraparound windows, plants and a Zen garden offer natural sunlight and elements of nature.
“Many people would think that a space like this would feel sterile and unwelcoming, but I incorporated natural materials like untreated teak, poplar, fir, date palm lighting, ethically sourced wool rugs and Oeko-Tex linen curtains to create a warm, welcoming oasis,” says Trattner, who also chose artwork by female artisans in Morocco, Tunisia and Italy.
The practice offers acupuncture, light therapy, Chinese dietary therapy, crystal and gemstone healing and more to treat acute and chronic illnesses.
PHOTOS: LARRY GATZ PHOTOGRAPHY
