A hot topic in interior design and architecture has been Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese cultural practice that aspires to achieve balanced energy force (called Qi or Ch'i) or harmony within one’s environment and life. Feng (wind) and shui (water) are the two elements that circulate everywhere and are the most basic requirements for survival on this Earth. The elements combine to create Ch'i, which in feng shui philosophy is the life force that animates all living things.
Feng shui strives for balance in all aspects of one's life. In modern design terms, the focus is upon the placement and arrangement of objects or spaces in one’s everyday home and workplace environment. The overarching philosophy of feng shui is to create a positive living space.
Feng shui features five elements: earth (grounding and support), metal (mental power), fire (forceful energy), wood (growth), and water (release or renewal). Each possesses its own
properties that can be applied to design, construction, and spatial planning.
When applied to interior design and architecture, the goal and philosophy of feng shui is a balance of the elements to create spaces that are either relaxing and inviting or that are energizing and renewing. Too much of an element in one area can result in imbalances. For example, too much earth could bog things down.
Applications of feng shui in design and architecture include ceiling heights, room layouts, proximities, shapes, placement of entryways, windows, and mirrors, staircase locations and dimensions, and color selections, among other things. Efforts by qualified consultants to ensure balance and proper energy flow can best be applied when recommendations are incorporated early on during the design and construction phases. Recommendations will typically vary depending upon the building's age, purpose, location, and physical orientation.
Resources:
The Principles of Feng Shui
, by Larry Sang (available at Amazon.com).
Fast Feng Shui: 9 Simple Principles for Transforming Your Life by Energizing Your Home
, by Stephanie Roberts (Amazon)