The first project that Howard Roark works on as an independent architect is a house for Austen Heller, a wealthy activist. Heller, like Roark, values independence, and he also shares Roark’s design aesthetics. After the Heller house is built, most people find it atrociously nontraditional and stop to stare and laugh when they pass by it. Heller isn’t bothered by these things, and completely loves his house. He remains a faithful friend to Roark, and he constantly tries to get Roark more commissions and comes to Roark’s defense when he is attacked in the papers. As an activist, Heller preaches independent thinking—as opposed to Toohey, who praises collective thinking and work.