Vedic House Design

[NewAge Property]

Hi Fellow Real Estate Lovers,
I am planning to build and sell a Vedic house on flat land somewhere that people would like to live.
A vedic house is one that enhances the health and happiness of the occupants.

This one is 178 sq m including the double garage.

At this early stage, it would be good to have your opinions as to anything that can or should be altered, to avoid unnecessary expense at a later stage.

I look forward to your ideas.

Andrew Scott

http://newageproperty.com.au/plans/Vedic-house-AREA-FLOOR-PLAN.pdf

http://newageproperty.com.au/plans/Vedic-House-Floor-Plan.pdf

 

[Aaron Sice]

Vedic?

You mean, following the principles of Vashtu Shastra?

If so, Laundry/Bath, Kitchen and Master Suite in the wrong spot.

 

[NewAge Property]

Vedic?

You mean, following the principles of Vashtu Shastra?

If so, Laundry/Bath, Kitchen and Master Suite in the wrong spot.

Vedic means following the principles of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda.
There are many corruptions of Sthapatya Veda, but Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (MSV) is the authentic body of knowledge that expounds the potential in holistic form.
According to MSV, the house is an extension of the body, and the location of the rooms corresponds to the location of organs that facilitate the function the room is designed for.
Relating to the body, the head is North, the feet South, the front is East and the back is West.
Thus the kitchen is appropriately placed in the South East of the house which corresponds to the location in the body of the liver, an important organ for digestion.
I'm not 100% sure on the laundry - I've asked a specialist MSV consultant about that - but I believe the master bedroom is kosher.

 

[mumbai]

Sounds creepy!

 

[Aaron Sice]

OIC - 2 different forms of function.

this is my understanding of Vashtu - so obviously i should bow out!

 

[bashworth]

A gloomy living room due to facing south and a large veranda.

West facing bedroom's that are going to feel as hot as a furnace in summer with no shading.

Can't see how that would enhances my health and happiness

 

[NewAge Property]

Sounds creepy!

we're talking about the science of building dwellings that help people fell more comfortable and relaxed.
How could that be creepy?

 

[mumbai]

How scientific is this science?
Any proofs of people feeling more comfortable and relaxed in these kind of dwellings?

 

[redwing]

My couch is comfy and relaxing

I have proofs which include photos of me sleeping on it

I've shifted house a few times and I believe from these photos that I have placed it correctly each time (more proof)

 

[NewAge Property]

A gloomy living room due to facing south and a large veranda.

West facing bedroom's that are going to feel as hot as a furnace in summer with no shading.

The living room won't be gloomy because what the floor plan doesn't show is a skylight in the centre of the roof, which will flood the living areas with light.

As for the bedrooms on the West side, there are a few options:
1. Cover the windows with shutters and deal with the heat striking the walls by insulating them thickly.
2. Install a veranda on the West side - would add to the cost, but maybe we could move the veranda from the South side;
3. Build a pergola with a grapevine on the W side, or plant deciduous shrubs to provide shade in summer and sun in winter.

 

[Aaron Sice]

are you controlling the entry of light? what about the resultant heat gain in summer?

you know that south facing windows act like a vacuum for heat in winter, right?

 

[bashworth]

The living room won't be gloomy because what the floor plan doesn't show is a skylight in the centre of the roof, which will flood the living areas with light.

As for the bedrooms on the West side, there are a few options:
1. Cover the windows with shutters and deal with the heat striking the walls by insulating them thickly.
2. Install a veranda on the West side - would add to the cost, but maybe we could move the veranda from the South side;
3. Build a pergola with a grapevine on the W side, or plant deciduous shrubs to provide shade in summer and sun in winter.

Skylights are about the worst form of glazing around. See http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2014/05/skylights/ to find out why!

Bedrooms
1, Shutters will give more gloomy depressing rooms.
2, Veranda's don't work too well for west facing rooms because you get several hours of low angle sun.
3. Pergolas as verandas in 2. Trees will work but no need to worry about deciduous types, west facing windows hardly get any sunlight in winter anyway.

 

[NewAge Property]

How scientific is this science?
Any proofs of people feeling more comfortable and relaxed in these kind of dwellings?

Objectively, the body of evidence is in its infancy, but initial findings are very promising.
Here's a summary:
http://vastuarchitecture.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/full_summary_of_scientific_research.pdf

Anecdotally, there are plenty of testimonials like this one:

?I have been in my home for one year now. The reality of living in a [Vedic] home is so much more than I had ever considered. It has so far exceeded my expectations that I can?t really find the right words to express it. ?From the moment I moved into my house, my good fortune increased. Not doubled, not quadrupled, but much greater than that. I have to adjust to the reality that my desires get fulfilled very quickly now.

In many instances, I barely have identified the desire before it is fulfilled. The gap between having the desire and the fulfilment of the desire has shrunk to almost nothing. Things that used to be difficult to organize now organize themselves with virtually no effort on my part.

During the first year in my house, there has been such abundance in my life that I haven?t had to decide between fulfilling one desire and fulfilling another desire. Nature has become so bountiful that I can move forward on all levels, leaving behind the smallness of either?or thinking.

There is a precious feeling that develops between the [Vedic] house and the owner of the house. My experience is that my home is a totally safe, secure refuge, a sanctuary of purity and stillness and happiness.

I feel that my house protects me, not only when I am in it, but even when I am away from it. When I am not at home, I carry my house in my heart, and somehow, I feel like my house has me in its heart. I feel nourished by my house, supported by my house, cared for by my house. Also, I find that doing things for my house brings happiness ? simple household chores become fun and fulfilling activities because it
is for my house.?

More here:
http://www.maharishivastu.org/testimonials

 

[NewAge Property]

are you controlling the entry of light? what about the resultant heat gain in summer?

This is an issue for any type of house. Curtains or double glazing should do the job.

you know that south facing windows act like a vacuum for heat in winter, right?

Haven't heard of that one before. Again, double glazing in a cold area should solve it.

 

[NewAge Property]

Skylights are about the worst form of glazing around. See http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2014/05/skylights/ to find out why!

I agree that there is a price to pay for the uplifting effect of natural light inside the home, but a tubular skylight is a reasonable compromise:
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/skylights

Bedrooms
1, Shutters will give more gloomy depressing rooms.

The shutters would be closed only on very hot days. Otherwise heavy curtains could work, or a tubular skylight again.
[/QUOTE]

Bedrooms

2, Veranda's don't work too well for west facing rooms because you get several hours of low angle sun.
3. Pergolas as verandas in 2. Trees will work but no need to worry about deciduous types, west facing windows hardly get any sunlight in winter anyway.

Good points about the verandas, pergolas and deciduous trees. Native trees & shrubs will be more eco-friendly anyway.
Thanks for those ideas. You've helped me reach an important decision.

 

[NewAge Property]

OIC - 2 different forms of function.

this is my understanding of Vashtu - so obviously i should bow out!

This diagram is related to the principles of Vedic design.
Unfortunately the artist was not able to render it in 3D, otherwise we could have the East direction at the front of the dude, and the West at his back.

 

[vaughan]

This diagram is related to the principles of Vedic design.
Unfortunately the artist was not able to render it in 3D, otherwise we could have the East direction at the front of the dude, and the West at his back.

I can see his willie.

 

[bashworth]

A question for you Andrew. . .Was this designed by a person living in the Northern hemisphere?

My understanding of the Asian design (I'm more familiar with Feng Shui than Verdic) is that they consider the importance of the sun). As both techniques are northern hemisphere based they are looking at orientation being with the sun on the south of the house.

I don't believe they you can transpose designs direct from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere without changing them.

The sun always rises in the east so that should be common to both designs but I think that rooms that face south in northern hemisphere designs should face north in Southern hemisphere houses.

 

[NewAge Property]

The sun always rises in the east so that should be common to both designs but I think that rooms that face south in northern hemisphere designs should face north in Southern hemisphere houses.

Good point Brian.
I have left a message with my consultant, asking him to clarify this. I'll update you when his answer arrives.

 

[marg4000]

I'm with Bashworth.

My first thought on seeing your house plan was that the orientation was perfect for the northern hemisphere and was wondering if this is where the thinking originated.
Marg