| VERTICAL
UPDATE
High-Rise News & Updates
for Las Vegas
| The Feng Shui of High-Rise
Buildings |
by: Brenda Calvin,
The Calvin Group, LLC
|
 On
a recent trip to Shanghai, China, I was introduced to the
one of world’s foremost authorities on Feng Shui, Lillian
Too. Having completed an enormously successful career in banking
in Hong Kong, Lillian was not about to kick up her heels and
retire in the traditional sense. She has put her lifelong
passion of the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui to work as
a profession. Lillian, who also holds a Harvard MBA, has written
some 80 books translated in 30 languages on the subject of
Feng Shui and frequently consults with developers either in
the planning stages of new buildings or to increase the profitability
and harmony of existing buildings.
So, what is Feng Shui,
you may ask? Literally translated, it means “wind and
water,” and it is truly an ancient science which began
over 3,000 years ago. It relates to the Chinese tradition
that there is energy everywhere—called “chi”—which
is life-force energy. It is within our bodies and is the basis
of acupuncture, shiatsu massage and Tai chi. Chi relates to
everything in our lives: money, relationships, business, health,
success, etc. Our physical environment, our offices and our
homes (our Real Estate) can be arranged according to these
principles to enhance the flow of chi, thus the occupants
will live and work in harmony with nature. It involves the
location of furniture, what colors we use, decorator items
and even the plants we utilize.
For example, on the main
floor of your home, there are areas devoted to fame, partnership/marriage,
children, helpful people, career, knowledge, family and wealth.
A practical example would be to identify the career or wealth
area of your floor plan. This would be an ideal location for
a home office desk. On your desk, you may even want to have
a bamboo plant, which further invites chi to come into this
area and “dance,” enhancing your business life.
Simple as it may initially sound, Feng Shui can be quite complicated
and takes years of study. In fact, most savvy interior designers
work with or defer to a Feng Shui Master, if a client desires
the home or office to be arranged according to these principles.
In building a high-rise,
the Feng Shui consultant reviews the building site and the
topography of the location. We are quite fortunate in Las
Vegas to be surrounded by mountains. Mountains are thought
of as dragons, which protect and maintain positive chi or
prosperity. Nonetheless, certain sites are better than others.
The high-rise site is also evaluated by the road configuration.
A site that is at the end of a road, or a T junction, is considered
bad chi.
 The
layout or the floor plans and location of walls in a building
can be drawn according to Feng Shui. Additionally, the exterior
of the building can be designed to these principles. This
would involve everything from the orientation or direction
the building faces, where the main entry door should be for
maximum chi, where the windows are in relationship to the
main door, etc. A Feng Shui Master will more than likely utilize
a sophisticated Feng Shui compass to maximize accuracy. He
or she must take into account the exact birth time/date and
personality traits of the developer in the case of a new construction
building, or the occupants for an existing building. Also,
there are certain calendar timeframes which enter into the
equation. For example, right now we are evidently in an “eight
period,” which has certain requirements. This new 20-year
cycle of the “eight period” began in 2004 and
will be in place until 2/24/2024.
 Is
this sounding a bit like hocus-pocus? Maybe, but you may be
surprised to learn that many of the most well-known developers,
even in the United States, have consulted with Feng Shui Masters
before the first shovel hits the dirt. In 2005, Newsweek reported
that Donald Trump, Virgin Airlines and the United Nations
have all utilized Feng Shui. Even Walt Disney made Feng Shui
changes to their plans for the Disneyland in Hong Kong based
on a Feng Shui assessment. The thought behind these consultations
is that to be in harmony with nature—or maximizing chi—produces
a more profitable and harmonic result. I am told that agents
in Asia may find it more common than not to have a contingency
in the purchase contract: “Subject to Feng Shui Assessment.”
Of course, there is Feng
Shui to the exterior shape of a building and there are certain
shapes that are more auspicious than other shapes. These shapes
relate to one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, water
and metal. A round building is equated to the metal element.
A rectangular shaped building is equated to wood and is considered
growth energy; very strong and steady. This is generally the
best choice for a building shape. A water building would be
non-symmetrical and curvy. Water equates to money, so initially
one would think this would be a wise shape, but it depends
on numerous other factors. However, water is very auspicious
at the entry to a building, as long as it is not still, where
the chi is considered stagnant. However, water that flows
away from the entrance of a building is considered not good
as the chi or money is flowing from the building and not into
the building.
What I found most intriguing
is the fact that Feng Shui also interacts between structures—that
is, between buildings. So, for maximum chi, the Feng Shui
Master consulting for a developer would also consider the
exterior of other nearby buildings. The sharp edges of existing
buildings are considered “poison arrows” and must
be counteracted by the new building’s façade.
This is accomplished through the architecture (shape of the
new building) or by adding ornamentation to the new building
that represents protection or good fortune. For example, a
pair of lions at the front entrance of a building would protect
the chi or wealth inside the building. Another example would
be coins on the façade of a building. In fact, the
current tallest building in the world, Taipei 101, has coin
ornamentation on the exterior façade.
For more information on Feng
Shui, you may read one of Lillian Too’s many informational
books or visit Lillian Too’s Web site: www.Lillian-Too.com.
Until next time,
here’s wishing you all “good chi”!
 |
Brenda
Calvin is the Broker of The Calvin Group, LLC, and has
a 20-year successful track record of selling high-rise
and mid-rise condominiums in multiple states. The Calvin
Group is a boutique brokerage specializing the innovative
sales, marketing and developer consulting of residential
high-rise properties. To contact Brenda, you may phone
(702) 939-5638 or e-mail Brenda@TheCalvinGroup.com.
|
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