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Feng shui is balance in architecture
and design made possible by the
management of natural forces. "Wind"
and "water" (the literal meaning
of "feng shui") are two
of many forces taken into consideration by
the ancient sages in their design
of homes, palaces, gardens and cities.
The
fundamental purpose of feng shui is to create harmony and balance
in one's
life which, in turn, is reflected in his or her space. In
essence, it is a
place where one feels safe and protected which therefore
enhances life. It
also enhances our relationships within our families and
communities and helps
our productivity and prosperity.
As
a metaphor for stability the Chinese use the imagery of the five animals.
They
place a tortoise at the back, a dragon and a tiger on either side and a red
phoenix
in front. Symbolically, the individual is in the center protected by
these
powerful forces. The perception is of a secure and nurturing
environment in
which one can lead a productive life.
Feng
shui has been around for thousands of years. While the images
associated with
feng shui are distinctly Chinese, the principles are
universal and applicable
to the design of a road, a canal or
waterways, or even the placement of a
desk or bed. Certainly, the
Chinese are not alone in realizing that landscapes,
homes, and even
cities can be shaped by the forces of wind and water, the
balance of
heaven and earth, and the concept of yin and yang.
I
had the opportunity to use feng shui for a prospective development
in Amsterdam.
It was a competition to redevelop the area surrounding
Centraal Station, the
main transportation center, comparable to
Grand Central or Penn Station in
New York City. The project was located on an
island connected to Centraal
Station. The intention was to tear down
the existing postal facility which
occupied nearly 50 percent of the site
and rebuild a new mixed development
consisting of both residential
and commercial use. The program included a
new stock exchange
building, a new communications center, a new public library,
a park,
and new housing for families. There were two restrictions on this
site: the railroad tracks cannot be moved nor the street of small
rowhouse
buildings on the north side of the island as it was protected by a
landmarks
commission.
Using
the Black Sect approach, which is essentially the form school
approach of
evaluating the chi of the overall site, the first part of
the project was
to determine the main entry point of chi. Does it
enter from the main river
side, the side looking towards Amsterdam,
the train station itself, or from
the east direction? 
From
the point of view of the average person, I determined the main
entry point
of chi was from the main Centraal Station because
everyone will come from
this direction into the new development. Once
I determined the entry direction,
I was able to place the ba-gua as a
design tool to guide the placement of
the major program elements. The
process of locating the new buildings seemed
effortless. The stock
exchange building seemed perfectly aligned with the
"Wealth" gua. The
proposed public library integrated easily as part
of the landmark
structures in the "Knowledge" gua. The communications
center was
easily placed adjacent to Centraal Station in the "Helpful
People &
Travel" gua. And the housing development for the families
felt "at
home" along the south side of the development overlooking
the city of
Amsterdam across the protected harbor located in the "Children
&
Future & Marriage" guas. 
The
inspiration of placing a new park over the railroad tracks was
both practical
and revealed the power of feng shui energies. It was
clear that no structures
could be built over the railroad tracks because
the situation would create
a feeling of "no foundation" for the
occupants. Interestingly, by
placing the new large park over the
tracks, it reinforced the balance of the
five element theory of
"earth" symbolized by the park over the "water"
symbolized by the
railroad tracks.
Of
course, there is so much more that can be gained from evaluating
both the
practicalities of the project as well as the chi approach of
creating a harmonious
solution for the new development. For me, it
showed that feng shui principles
can truly have an
enormous impact on how people see their homes in relationship
to
their communities and to the world.
Feng
shui does not impose the concepts of architects and designers
but supports
and nurtures those who live or work within the spaces
designed. Perception
of community and associations about homes or
possessions can have a profound
effect on how people relate and live
with each other. Feng shui applied to
the design of a home, a
neighborhood cluster, or even a city can help shape
this perception
and these associations. The long-range impact affects productivity,
economics, and the image of the location.
During
the upcoming Feng Shui conference in Parsippany, NJ, I would
very much like
to foster a discussion as to how feng shui practitioners can contribute to the
landscape
of our homes, our neighborhoods and ultimately, our relationship
to the world.
R.D. Chin is a full-time Feng Shui Consultant
who is a New York State architect, NCIDQ interior designer, author and teacher.
Mr. Chin trained and worked with the late Paul Rudolph as an architect and further
expanded his knowledge of the interior design field working with Nina Hughes.
He combines Western design principles with Feng Shui to align any space with dimensions
of spirit, character, and a feeling of balance. In addition, Mr. Chin integrates
his innate knowledge of his Chinese heritage with the wealth of insight gained
from his travels to the Far East (China, Taiwan, Nepal, Tibet, India and Japan)
as well as Europe and the United States. Born in 1953, R. D. Chin
has a civil engineering degree (BSCE) from Tufts University and a masters degree
in architecture (M.Arch) from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been trained
and continues to study under the tutelage of Professor Lin Yun, Master of the
Tantric Buddhist School of Feng Shui. In 1993, Mr. Chin founded Space Alignment
Feng Shui Design, an architectural design consultant practice in New York City.
He also teaches regularly at the New York Open Center, the Long Island Feng Shui
Institute and other feng shui certification programs. He has also worked on proposals
for an urban planning and housing development in the Netherlands and contributed
a Feng Shui Proposal for the World Trade Center Memorial Competition with Colpacci
Miclescu Architects, Amsterdam. He is author of Feng Shui Revealed:
An Aesthetic, Practical Approach to the Ancient Art of Space Alignment published
by Clarkson Potter of Random House.
R.D. is currently the Director of the
New York City Chapter of the International Feng Shui Guild. In addition, Mr. Chin
has been interviewed for many newspaper and magazine articles, including the New
York Times and Metropolitan Home. He has been recently featured on Martha Stewart
Sirius Radio and interviewed with Emy Louie on her radio program in addition to
being on Lifetime Television and other major TV stations. Mr. Chin is available
for residential, commercial, and urban planning assignments throughout the world.
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