They say 'Every cloud has a silver lining' and indeed the upshot of the past 12 months global situation is an increased focus on wellness in every conceivable area, from apps to supplements to courses and Zoom experiences. Wellness architecture is receiving a huge boost in popularity as people renovating or building their own home are prioritising wellness like never before and it is no longer considered a 'nice to have' but an essential aspect of smart design. Energy therapies and energy design disciplines like Feng Shui are also being adopted more now than ever as people want to make sure they have considered wellness from every aspect. Happily, Feng Shui design guides us with useful and time tested wellbeing principles on both a physical pragmatic level and also from an energetic/spiritual level.  

Did you know, the most commonly used adjectives to describe the best wellness environment are: 

• Sustainable/Eco Sensitive
  
• Natural
  
• Spiritual           [Source: GWI Wellness Architecture Initiative)

These adjectives were used by participants who completed a questionnaire on what creates the ideal wellness space, at a roundtable event held in New York by the GWI WAI. It is interesting and encouraging to not that even though participants largely had very scientific backgrounds, their innate sense that wellness incorporated "spiritual and natural" was still intact. From my 23 years of practicing Feng Shui, I can tell you with absolute confidence that Feng Shui is both spiritual AND natural, and is a fundamental building block of a wellness space. In 2019 a wonderful couple, clients of mine, completed a private Kung Fu Kwoon and a separate Yoga Space, both painstakingly measured out on site by me to very specific angles and designed with Feng Shui inside and also the surrounding landscaping. I advised that the natural pond be cleaned then activated with a lovely fountain so that the water is moving. The beautifully positive energy resonating from and within both spaces is tangible. The owners absolutely love spending time there - describing the energy as 'exquisite'. 

Eco-psychology & biophilic design provide well researched examples of the need for greenery and rhythmic & proportional space to feel relaxed and in tune with life. There is a lot more to biophilic design than putting a few pot plants in your space. While most people trust their instincts and innately understand or intuit or simply experience nature as healing and soothing, there still exists a peculiar determination to 'prove' nature's value via scientific analysis, almost as if the healing properties don't exist unless they have been subject to some particular test...!  

Another silver lining in this unprecedented time is that people are having to turn inwards into their own self much more than ever before and this is why we are seeing an increase in challenges but also opportunities in mental health and self-development. Sadly, the ineffective policies of locking down healthy people have taken their toll with so many suicides and a rise in domestic violence etc. Marriages already on thin ice have been further challenged, and relationships have broken down. Some have mended their way of interacting, due to the increased time spent together,  so it isn't all doom and gloom. Singletons have turned to virtual dating like never before, and almost everyone has had to have a rethink, to turn inwards via mediation or yoga or walking in nature. People have had time to re-assess their values and priorities. Some have even re-trained entirely or taken up a hobby they never had time for before.  

Some people have decided to ditch the city and head to the countryside, buying plots of land to build their own dream home, or renovating and extending old properties with land enough to grow their own organic food and be as off grid as possible. I help with the selection of the new plot, and some of my clients have me advise on their Chinese Astrology as to which place in the world would be best for them to live! We can pinpoint certain parts of the world, or a country or even a region or town/city that will be better for you. If couples have different needs then certain other considerations are taken on board - we might choose the location based on one person and their career needs, then choose the type of house to support the other. There are ways to help both people. Very often we arrive at finding a home that supports both people in different ways. Some feng shui new builds, like one I am advising on in Cheshire have to be within a certain footprint of the site plot, but even then we can change the angle ever so slightly to make a huge difference. I absolutely love it when we have the opportunity to design a property, including the access points/driveways etc and the landscaping from scratch with a completely clean slate. 

Those who have the means are now adding home workout/meditation spaces and/or 'Zoom rooms' so that they can partly continue the home based work life. Thankfully though, many office workers are noticing the benefit of time spent together in the same space and sorely missing that spontaneous interaction with their colleagues, not just from a normal human social perspective but from the point of view that bouncing ideas around and creative collaboration is so much easier when colleagues are within reach of one another. Hopefully, more office spaces will open up in the months to come and people can enjoy the company culture once again. 

The isolated way of living with everyone in their own little micro bubble, has highlighted the need for community living and connection. Multi-generational living is also coming back into fashion, so that the elders aren't forgotten about any more or forced to endure this type of situation ever again on their own. Loneliness is a killer. 

Anyone looking to create a Unique Selling Point with their next property development opportunity would be well advised to consider the longer term returns of incorporating feng shui and wellness into their designs. From my over 2 decades of feng shui practice in London and UK and all over the world I see time and time again the positive impact of feng shui consideration in homes, offices, new builds etc. While the proof is largely qualitative and experiential, the clients are often highly intelligent, educated, professional people who understand the importance of subtle energies in their own sensibilities and the built environment. Wellness travel is already a mega trend. Its only a matter of time before wellness architecture fully comes into its own. 

There aren't that many precedents so far and most are in the USA, but wellness is certainly gaining recognition as a way to increase the asking price of true wellness designed homes by up to 30%. 

It takes much more than a few lavender bushes at the front door to turn a home or spa into a true wellness development. While there are a few genuine developers like Cundall and Delos creating beautiful and healthy spaces, many are cutting corners and not taking the time to source the right materials or integrate the wellness technology necessary, and fewer still are truly applying energy healing principles into their designs. "Inspired by" feng shui is not the same as "designed with" feng shui. Sometimes there are good reasons why home owners can't implement everything I suggest, but at least we start off with the ideal and manage to incorporate some aspects of wellness considerations. 

If you would like to discuss how I could help you with your new build or property development project, or even the refurbishment/renovation of an existing space, do get in touch.