Sometimes a piece of a neighborhood’s history just needs someone to notice it.
When Sand Lake Hills resident Richard Terpstra, pictured above, came across some of the original materials from the neighborhood, including old floor plans and the original Sand Lake Hills logo, he saw something worth bringing back.
Richard happens to know a thing or two about design. A professional designer who works for Disney, he and his husband have called Sand Lake Hills home for nine years. His interest in the neighborhood’s history eventually led him to recreate the original logo to modernize it as well as preserve what was already there.
As Richard puts it, he didn’t redesign the Sand Lake Hills logo. He “simply revived, restored and recreated what was already perfect to begin with.”
We asked Richard a few questions about his story, why he chose Sand Lake Hills and what inspired him to bring a piece of the neighborhood’s past back to life.
Did you grow up in Orlando, and if not, what brought you here?
No, I didn’t grow up here in Orlando, but spent many a summer coming to vacation as well as to visit family that had made their way south from Indiana.
When did you know that you would become a designer?
I would have to say my senior year of high school. It’s one of those small-town-boy-wins-a-“big”-design-contest type of stories.
What attracted you to living in Sand Lake Hills, and how long have you been here?
My husband and I have been part of the community now for nine years. We had looked at this neighborhood twice because it’s the perfect proximity between what we call “Vacationland” and the “Real Orlando.”
What do you like about the houses and location here?
We liked how it felt sleepy, quaint, calm and familiar. It had a nostalgic charm and appeal, but also untapped potential.
When you recreated the Sand Lake Hills logo, what inspired you to do it?
I wouldn’t say that I reimagined or redesigned the new logo. I simply revived, restored and recreated what was already perfect to begin with.
Can you share how you approached the design?
I’m a big fan of history, so when we moved to the community I wanted to know as much as I could. When I found the original floor plans, along with the original logo for the community, I knew I had struck gold.
Not only from a historic point of view, but also one of design. I won’t get into the fundamentals of typography, but the original logo utilizes one of my all-time favorite typographer’s fonts.
I instantly thought how great that logo would be on a shirt and how badly I wanted to represent my community by bringing back the nostalgia and basic beginnings of a community.
What do you hope to see in our community going forward?
I hope to see more interaction and connection, and to foster a community of inclusion. We live in such a fast-paced time that it seems nowadays we don’t even get to know thy neighbors.
Sand Lake Hills 