Sunlight and orientation in Maharishi Vedic Architecture: a theoretical and empirical study of hemispheric effects

Abstract

Purpose

To examine whether quality-of-life of a home's occupants varies in northern and southern hemisphere homes when the orientation of the home is always to the eastern sun (as prescribed by Maharishi Vedic Architecture) not orientated differently in northern and southern hemispheres to maximise light (as prescribed by western and Feng Shui architecture design).

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical discussion of the use of sunlight and orientation in western, Feng Shui and Vedic approach to architecture, and then a cross-sectional quantitative survey conduced in 14 countries.

Findings

The lived experience of 158 home occupants in Maharishi Vedic Architecture did not vary from northern to southern hemispheres.

Originality/value

Research of this type has never been carried out before on Maharishi Vedic Architecture, except for one other study published in 2020 by these authors which considered the lived experience of home occupants. The amount of research on the basics of Vastu architecture is minimal.

Citation

Fergusson, L., Bonshek, A., Nidich, S., Ortiz Cabrejos, J. and Nidich, R. (2021), "Sunlight and orientation in Maharishi Vedic Architecture: a theoretical and empirical study of hemispheric effects", Open House International, Vol. 46 No. 4, pp. 697-716. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-03-2021-0071