Feng shui applied in architecture 

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice of geomancy. It believes in using energy forces to create harmony between individuals and their environment. The Chinese believed that landscapes and bodies of water direct the flow of qi (pronounced "chi," which means energy) through places and structures, according to a report by Manila Times.

One thing about feng shui is it is not grounded on superstition but rather on the forces of nature, which is broken down into the five elements — earth, water, wind, fire and metal. These elements must be harmonized to ensure positive qi at all times.

Feng shui masters who understand the behavior of qi can help influence these flows to bring about good fortune. On the other hand, the bad flow of qi may lead to misfortune or disaster. Feng shui has been applied in just about everything and architecture and interior design are no exceptions. Architects and interior designers who have Chinese clients often work with feng shui masters who are brought in to help determine correct placement to ensure positive energy will flow.

But according to feng shui master Hanz Cua, there is no guarantee that positive energy will flow all the time. He said geography is not the only factor to determine good fortune, but also the position of heavenly bodies, especially during a person's birthday and this changes every year. For instance, feng shui masters would help determine an ideal spot where the house would be built and where the façade would face to ensure the flow of positive qi. However, the flow of qi may change from good to bad year after year. Because of this, adjustments have to be made to help counter negative qi.

Architecture

Architect Oliver Sia, who is also familiar with the principles of feng shui, gives some examples on how it is applied to architecture. For instance, the number of stairs. According to Sia, "one and two is good, three and four are bad." The number of stairs must land on one and two, which goes against the "oro, plata, mata" mentality of non-Chinese.

Another instance Sia gives is the placement of doors inside the house. "The doors should not face each other as good qi just flows through and through and won't stop inside," he said.

"The door of the master bedroom should not be immediately on the landing of the stairs so groggy dad won't fall down when he opens the door in the morning," he continued.

Sia also explains that there are times it is unavoidable doors will face each other because of small or narrow spaces like townhouses. This is countered by placing bagua (small mirrors with eight symbols of Taoist cosmology) in the front of the doors to counter the flow of negative qi.

Interior design

While feng shui principles apply to many elements of life, they are commonly practiced in interior design as well because the tools used in feng shui analysis can most easily be applied in the context of a structure.

The application of feng shui in interior design is putting the right decorations and fixtures to ensure the flow of good qi and avoiding those that may inhibit it.

Feng shui closely imitates the principles of Yin and Yang where it seeks to balance good and bad energies.

One such instance is promoting a clutter-free space, most especially the kitchen. Windows should also be kept clear of any clutter as well and kept clean. This is said to bring negative qi and could pose a hazard to the health of the occupants of a house. Therefore, it is necessary to declutter or remove unnecessary objects if they do not fit into the natural flow of the living space. In the bathroom, it is also recommended to keep the toilet bowl lid down to control contamination. Mirrors should be placed in the washroom to disrupt negative energy.

Feng Shui experts suggest using the combination of three natural colors to bring serenity and positive energy indoors. They recommend light shades of lavender, blue, green and peach to create a calming effect. Although white will also do, it should be used sparingly as it projects a cold atmosphere.

Sound is also taken into consideration besides light or colors. Metal is combined with earth elements to bring about positivity. This can be done by placing wind chimes, bells or a Tibetan "singing bowl" (used to bless objects) to further create a positive effect.

Dark and desolate places bring negativity. This can be countered by bringing in natural light and putting plants (not artificial) to instill elements of nature and ensure the continued flow of positive energy.

As mentioned earlier, the use of the bagua and putting animal figurines (using the appropriate one based on the current year on the Chinese calendar) in strategic places also helps to counter negative qi.

"There is a solution and a counteract to every problem that cannot be solved by orientation," said Sia.