Feng Shui as an inspiring tool

Predore doesn't rely on Feng Shui (for sure!). But still this rich though ambivalent form of Chinese culture could be used to teach us some lessons regarding a sound and safe urban environment.

Click here for our precedent in Shanghai.

Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway) is known as an ancient Chinese 'philosophy', but in modern times it represents a collection of quasi-scientific theories typically containing a high astrological content. At best, Feng Shui is a coherent treatise on the relationship between humans and their environment. In principle, therefore, Feng Shui could still be used to examine the relationship between the built environment and social safety.

Feng Shui in all its variations is primarily applied to make improvements to the interiors of homes and offices. Where safety is concerned, Feng Shui is possibly more relevant in the field of urban planning, namely where the position of buildings is at stake, particularly the relationship of those buildings to their surroundings.
Such an application of Feng Shui also does much more justice to its cultural-historical background, which, after all, dates back to the practice of Chinese urban planning from some 3,000 years ago. Feng Shui principles formed the basis for the urban design of cities such as Beijing. The historical map of this city shows the vast complex of the 'Forbidden City,' which forms the centre of a rectangular grid covered by mountains to the north and oriented towards the south toward the river basin on which the city is situated. According to Feng Shui, the cardinal direction determines the orientation of a city, as well as that of the buildings within that city.

Interior of the Forbidden City
Inset: map

Both a city and a building must be oriented to the south, and thus to the sun; from the north, only 'bad' winds were expected. However, besides religious or metaphysical grounds, this principle was also based on climatic and practical considerations. Good sun exposure is necessary, as is the availability of water and protection against wind. Literally, Feng Shui means 'wind and water'.
The 'hutongs', the old working-class neighbourhoods in Beijing, are therefore predominantly oriented to the south. The main street is reached from the south, and the residential alleys leading off that street are oriented east-west. Most doors are located in facades facing south.
Many astrologically inspired applications of Feng Shui attribute 'own forces' to each cardinal direction. The 'compass method' is then used to determine these directions. However, this method is not relevant for applications in the field of social safety. Incidentally, that applies to all those forms of Feng Shui if, upon closer examination, they turn out to be nothing more than variations on astrology.


Click here for our precedent in Shanghai.

Without critically discussing the validity of the underlying principles here, a number of practical rules of thumb can be distilled from the 'conceptual system' of Feng Shui that largely correspond to similar rules of thumb in the field of social safety. The selection may appear arbitrary and incomplete in the eyes of so-called 'Feng Shui Masters', but that is precisely the intention. Feng Shui principles are discussed here only if they are applicable within the domain of Predore.

Principles
Cities and buildings require a harmonious relationship with their surroundings.
Buildings should not stand too close together and must have protection on the sides and rear.
Buildings possess a solid 'foundation'; that is to say, the function on the ground floor does not interfere with the upper floors.
Spaces must have a pleasant atmosphere. The use of colors can contribute to this.
A transitional area necessarily exists between the private domain and the public domain. In principle, private space is never directly connected to public space.
The orientation of entrances is a delicate matter. Traditionally, a north-facing orientation is unsuitable. The final orientation depends partly on the previously mentioned rules of thumb.
Entrances are spacious. Natural light is optimally utilized to enhance spaciousness and visibility.
The urban pattern is clear. The same applies to individual spaces. Dead corners and spaces that fall outside the regular field of vision are unfavourable. In general, the intended use and designed layout of a neighbourhood must have a beneficial effect on the well-being and health of the residents.
The living and working environment must be clean. Maintenance must be of a sufficiently high standard.
The immediate residential environment is traffic-calm. Excessive speeds are countered by the design of the road profile and road alignment. Fast traffic requires its own designated area, for example at the edge of the neighbourhood.

Nevertheless, there are Feng Shui principles that are at odds with the rules aimed at creating favourable conditions for social safety. For instance, according to Feng Shui, greenery can be effectively used to camouflage certain functions. However, this seems to contradict the required visibility of those functions. In general, categories such as police stations, fire stations, cemeteries, and hospitals are attributed 'negative energy,' and it is advised to conceal such functions as much as possible and ban them from living and working environments. This is not only an incoherent approach to the built environment but, above all, an extraordinarily counterproductive view when it comes to guaranteeing social safety as much as possible.

Example of a handbook: 'Feng Shui in the City: A Practical Handbook for Modern Urban Living', Singapore 2007. Author: Jason Fong. "This extensively illustrated book for purchasers of homes in urban areas has been written by an established fengshui consultant. Even those who understand little of the principles involved may benefit from the advice or guidance offered.", aldus een bespreking (bron: Internet)

Feng Shui precedent in Shanghai

On our vision on Feng Shui, click here...

Guoji Lidu (2002-2005) is a luxury residential complex in the Jingan district of Shanghai, not far from the city centre. The main entrance is situated on Beijing West Road. The project consists of a series of interconnected residential towers. Various amenities are located at ground level. A large parking garage is situated beneath the complex. A significant portion of the site (approximately 40%) is occupied by a communal garden.

In the main entrance stands a sculpture whose pedestal is adorned with the following text, written in the ancient idiom Pinyin: ‘zi-qi-dong-lai’, which literally means 'the purple energy comes from the east', and according to Feng Shui, figuratively, that prosperity is coming. In modern times, this saying primarily expresses that happiness and safety are connected to the place of residence. That is why many Chinese front doors are equipped with this type of text.
The colour (light) purple dominates the entrance, incorporated among other things into the natural stone used. Purple is associated with the dragon (one of the four main animals) and is therefore considered the 'highest' colour, while the east as a direction is related to wood (one of the five elements), which symbolizes life.
In short, everything is interconnected in this entrance. The 'Feng Shui' is good here. This place is not only safe, but also pleasant and liveable, or at least that is what one attempts to express through form, materials, and interior design. By taking a closer look at a few safety principles distilled by us from Feng Shui, it can be verified whether this is indeed the case.


Guarded main entrance to the site.

Principle: 'A transitional area necessarily exists between the private domain and the public domain. Private space is, in principle, never directly connected to public space.' The guarded entrance is an elaboration of this principle, but de facto results in a 'gated community'. In terms of the security of the complex, this is beneficial; for the social safety of the surrounding area, it is anything but. The question is also how this military-looking entrance relates to the following principle: 'Cities and buildings require a harmonious relationship with their surroundings'.

Collective entrance to the building complex

Principle: 'Entrances are spacious. Natural light is optimally utilized to enhance spaciousness and visibility.' This has been achieved, although we were unable to assess the passageway for wind nuisance. The transition from the exterior to the interior (the side facing the communal garden) is pleasant. Feelings of insecurity seem hardly out of place here. The text on the plinth (see earlier) makes a strong impression. It indeed looks prosperous here.

Communal garden in the inner courtyard of the complex

Principle: 'Spaces must have a pleasant atmosphere. The use of colours can contribute to this.' Colours have been applied very carefully in this precedent, particularly a great deal of light purple, the 'highest' colour. In line with this, green is also deliberately incorporated. A communal garden of exceptional quality is practically mandatory in this type of residential complex, which is naturally beneficial for the living environment, and consequently for the sense of safety.

Entrance to one of the buildings

Principle: 'In general, the intended use and designed layout of a neighbourhood must have a beneficial effect on the well-being and health of the residents'. In a luxury residential complex such as this precedent, this principle is more than realized.

For our vision on Feng Shui, click here...
For our precedent in Shanghai, click here...

Feng Shui documentation and precedent were established based on research by RVDB/Dr. Rob van der Bijl in Shanghai, with the cooperation of Dr. Chunlan Zhao (April 2007).

All texts and images:(C) RVDB, Amsterdam, April-October 2007.
Version: 270326