By S.B.S. Surendra, Accredited Master Feng Shui Consultant

Feng Shui, Vaastu science, modern structural designs and building science have detailed many methods to construct an earthquake resistant structure. It’s a common fact that only “weak” structures give away during earthquakes causing calamity and destruction. The science of Feng Shui and  Vaastu propagates creating strong, vibrant and stable structures which stand for centuries and withstand adverse circumstances and nature’s fury.

Some of the vital factors to be considered in building an earthquake resistant  structure are:

1. Building Configuration: The earthquake resistance of a structure is largely influenced by the configuration of the property in terms of Geometrical shapes in plan, elevation and location of structural elements and distribution of the mass of the building. Hence, adapting regular configurations, symmetry and uniformity would be beneficial.

2. Plan and elevation shapes:  The building having a uniform shape in elevation will avoid sudden changes in lateral stiffness along the height of the building which would cause concentration of stress and disintegration. Especially buildings which have inverted set back (top heavy or enlarged) are quite dangerous due to the high centre of gravity which could tilt the foundation during earthquakes.

3. Building design: The openings in the walls in the form of doors, windows and ventilators should be of uniform size, shape and distance from the corners. Avoid cut corners and any extension or cut corners should be limited to 15-20% of that particular side for better stability under earthquake forces.

4. Plot soil and Vegetation: Examine the quality of soil and past history of the site; ensure the ground is free of sludge, worms, ants and bones. Holes charcoal, ash and husk weaken the foundation and will not be good from earthquake resistance point of view.

5. Cleansing and Purifying: Purify the land to ensure it is free of all negative forces, ill energies which can be done through sprinkling rock salt in all the four corners of the property; also add a nine inches  layer of pure sand  before commencing the construction work. It should be chemically inert and preferably from a river or water source as this will provide elasticity to the foundation and super structure and will help quick regaining of the equilibrium to a building during earthquakes.

6. Ensure that while laying the foundation it is conical at its base and rectangular in its overall design and the laying of foundation should be a continuous work without break and water should not be allowed to stagnate during construction.

Earthquakes cannot be prevented and nature cannot be controlled, yet by adapting some simple but scientific suggestions integrating the science of Feng Shui, Vaastu and modern architecture, we can for sure create structures which are earthquake resistive.

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