DESIGNING HOMES WITH VASTU SHASTRA
Bharat Gandhi is an architect who turned to interior design and discovered Vastu shastra, the science of structures, almost by accident. Today, he is one of the best known practitioners of the science and has, to his name, computerized software that evaluates a space for Vastu compliance. Pause for a moment and think. Consider the possibility that your problems could be linked with the orientation of your home. Or, that you can't clinch the big deals because your office cabin faces a negative direction. Sounds scary, doesn't it? But don't lose heart there's hope say exponents of Vastushastra, who claim to have all the answers - and computerizing this science of structures ha made life so simple for everyone. What does Vastushastra have to do with computers? Ask architect Bharat Gandhi.
Bharat transitioning into interior designing from architecture, did several good designs for interiors when he met a client fanatical about Vastushastra, who insisted that Bharat design his showroorn as per Vastu norms. Bharat s initial reluctance soon changed to enthusiasm: he had previously done an extensive study of Solar architecture, and as he studied Vastushastra, he discovered strong links between the two sciences. He felt that every norm, or threat, of Vastushastra had a very sound rationale, and much of it was based on the effects of solar energy. If the north-east is the best direction for India as per Vastushastra, it is so according to the principles of solar architecture too, according to Bharat. Only, the norms are worded differently. Vastushastra is the ancient science of structure, steeped in superstition and linked with God and religion, by those who formulated it - just so that the society would accept it. Today, centuries later, it sounds highly ridiculous, while Solar architecture, lucid and practical, is more readily acceptable. So, Bharat's claim to fame is his interpretation of Vastushastra. Bharat has analyzed its relevance to contemporary times and through extensive research and case studies, developed a Vastu software that is geared for modern applications. Computerized Vastushastra? Sounds good.
It was while working on the C Tribhovandas sanitary ware showroom project that Bharat got the idea of developing a software. He realized that he had to constantly balance out the positive and negative elements - macro level limitations had to be overcome by obtaining maximum micro level benefits.
The central space is kept open, as per Vastu norms, and all other functions are located around it. The focus of this central open space is a transparent glass sculpture, which displays some of the shop's merchandise.
The south-west side has a raised platform, with the sales counter, facing east, placed on it. The wall behind has a huge mural, made with various tiles. These three elements together block the negative solar energy coming from that direction. The display is on the opposite wall, facing west, supposedly a good location for sales. The owners are happy and say their turnover has doubled after this Vastu - based refurbishment!
'Vastu works,' smiles Bharat. And it does seem to have worked for him. Today, he gets over 50 enquiries a day, from people interested in getting their premises evaluated through his software. It is the industrial projects which Bharat really enjoys, and though Vastushastra diktats earlier made a reference to commercial and industrial applications, Bharat has used the rationale and modified the norms to suit offices and factories.
Vastushastra does not necessarily curb a designer's aesthetic liberties, or compromise on his design style, adds Bharat.
An interesting office interior project is that of West Coast Industries, a premier garment export firm. In this .case, the clients themselves had not asked for a Vastu-positive interior - all they wanted was a plush, up market office, where they could conduct business meetings with their international clientele. Halfway through the design, Bharat realized that he was subconsciously inculcating Vastu-positive elements in the interior.
This is quite natural: if the architect believes that a Conference Room in the north-west is better, more Vastu-positive, than one in the south -east, he will locate it there - almost mechanically. So it is the north-west for the Conference Room, in which the head of table faces north or east, both of which are positive directions. The design studio is in the south-west, a good direction for people in the creative business and a loft there blocks the negative solar energy.
Though the residential projects were remodeled as per Vastushastra, they aren't actually ideal Vastu layouts. They show the architect's concept of counterbalancing the effects of negative elements by introducing more positive elements - and beautifully weaving the two into his design. .
The interiors of the two homes are quite diverse - one is South Indian, the other Victorian. Sushila Mehta is an avid art collector, with an obvious preference for Tanjore paintings and the wooden canoed elements typically used in the South. As the northeast is the best direction for praying and meditation, that wall of the lobby is lined with painted and sculptured images of various Indian deities. In the living-dining area, and also in the kitchen and bedrooms, most major restrictions have been compensated by careful detailing to minimize negative influences.
Jayshree Desai loves the period style. She had worked with Bharat as his creative consultant for many years. Quite naturally, her own house is a showcase for period style furniture and colors. The favorite hunting ground was Char Bazaar, and most of the woodwork has been acquired from there. The restoration and contextually relevant reuse of those pieces is the result of their collective efforts. Here, the bedrooms are ideally located: especially the children, in the south-east, with the bed head also in the same direction. The wardrobes in the west block the negative energy, and the north-west being a below average location, is suitably occupied by the toilets. South or south-east are the directions for heat and electricity sources, so whether it's the geyser in the bathroom or the cooking range in the kitchen, it must be thoughtfully placed. In his own home Bharat has relocated rooms and remodeled the old house. That might explain why the previous owners of the building had gone bankrupt, the house was a distress sale, while Bharat has prospered in the same house. Who knows, even without the Vastu-oriented refurbishment, Bharat might have prospered. Till recently, we would have attributed his success to destiny.