Julian Clinic Design: Blending Victorian-Era Charm with Modern Health Care
FS Design Group Completes Another Successful Collaboration with San Ysidro Health
Article overview: FS Design Group partnered with San Ysidro Health to design Julian Clinic, a modern medical facility that blends the historic town’s Victorian-era charm with the latest health care technology and code-compliant materials. Through thoughtful architectural details, rich colors, vintage-inspired finishes and durable materials, the clinic honors Julian’s unique character while expanding access to essential health care for the community.
Two cousins, both Civil War veterans, headed west from Georgia to seek their fortunes. They settled in a lush meadow near the Cuyamaca Mountains and founded the Town of Julian. About an hour east of San Diego, Julian became home to San Diego County’s first and only gold rush. With all the gold mined from the area by the 1930s, the quaint, frozen-in-time town is now known for its apples and apple pie, drawing in tourists who want to experience apple picking, colorful seasons and a taste of history.
While Julian’s residents live in a community that is as beautiful as it is historical, access to health care has been a challenge. FS Design Group was proud to work with San Ysidro Health to bring modern medicine to the Town in a way that honors its past and improves its present.
Victorian-era architectural and design elements ensure the new Julian Clinic, constructed from the ground up, aligns with the Town’s historic aesthetic while providing much-needed health care to the community.
We designed a unique and special medical facility design because San Ysidro Health must keep the Town’s aesthetic and culture and not create something that doesn’t fit in. The facility matches its surroundings by blending rich yet simple Victorian-era design elements with the latest technology and materials to comply with medical office building requirements.
In the two-story clinic’s waiting room, offices, restrooms, stairwells and halls, the Victorian era is seen through ornamentation, rich colors and handcrafted millwork features. Some design highlights include:
- Rustic plank wood flooring
- Tin ceiling panels with cornice or wood ceiling planks and crown molding
- Authentic-style wainscot
- Floral designs in rich blues, reds and greens on wall coverings, upholstery and privacy curtains
- Ornate restroom mirrors with delicate bird and vine details
- Door and cabinet hardware in brass
- Vintage light fixtures
One design challenge was that materials used in most of the medical facility must be new, code compliant and durable — and such materials are generally available in the clean, modern lines of a contemporary style. So, the FS Design Group team found elements that satisfy sanitation and mobility requirements while also embracing the vintage flare of florals and deep colors. For example, the rustic plank wood flooring look continues in the exam rooms with similar-appearing luxury vinyl tile, which is easy to clean and durable. Even the bronze and brass door handles used throughout the clinic comply with the Americans with Disability Act.
While designing the Julian Clinic with the Victorian feel of the old mining town was a fun challenge, the best part was knowing that we created something that residents and tourists in this beautiful community need and will appreciate. We were also honored to continue our fantastic working relationship with San Ysidro Health.
