Healthy Living in the Built Environment in Light of Feng-shui

Xu, Ping

Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/articles/v979v476x

Abstract

This paper explores a synthesis design approach to enhance healthy living, integrating the author's feng-shui research and consultation with her architecture teaching. Feng-shui is an ancient Chinese practice to harmonize people with their environment. In light of feng-shui, this approach emphasizes comprehensive analyses with various scales, from the natural landscape, climate impact, and urban/landscape design to architecture and interior design. Introducing systems philosophy and scientific knowledge and conducting field investigations, the course helps undergraduate students understand that enhancing healthy living should be the primary goal for architectural design. Healthy living includes both physical and mental aspects. Homesites in areas prone to natural hazards could lead to injury, illness, and fatalities. Inadequate ventilation can foster indoor pollutants, radon, bacteria, and viruses. Inappropriate spatial designs can cause physical and mental illness. This interdisciplinary approach to architectural design serves to help students improve both their living conditions and design skills. The isolation of design disciplines cannot resolve the health issues affected by the built environment. To enhance healthy living and well-being in a built environment, designers must analyze impacts from the entire system, including Sky with climate, Earth with landforms and water, and People from individuals to their society. Ultimately, this design approach helps students develop systems thinking, a fundamental worldview in the contemporary world.

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