Issue 7: January 2011

Issue #7:
January, 2011

Welcome to our Issue

A Solid model for Natural Materials
Vedic Garden Design website
Tiny Vastu Houses Fit the Need of the Time
New Zealand opportunities to “Taste” Vastu living

PUBLISHED BY:
Maharishi Vastu® Architecture, Applying the principles of Maharishi Vastu design

641-472-7570 (phone)
641-472-8691 (fax)
info@maharishivastu.org

About Us

Live or work in Maharishi Vastu and gain a powerful influence of fulfillment, happiness and perfect health for the rest of your life.

Maharishi Vedic® architecture provides the universal rules and principles to design buildings, developments and cities to bring the beneficial influence of all the laws of nature to human life.

Maharishi Vastu is the holistic science of establishment that connects the parts to the whole, the individual to the cosmic.

What we offer to you:

Pre-designed plans for homes and larger buildings.
Custom design of homes by affiliated architects.
Site evaluation: to help you find an ideal site.
Master Planning for developments and communities.
Consultation services: to ensure that your architect’s custom design will have a fully nourishing influence.

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A Solid model for Natural Materials

Bob and Judy Jackson have recently completed their Maharishi Vastu, rammed earth home in the hills of Western Australia, outside of Perth. The home has a unique character and style with the natural earth colors standing out in the leafy suburban surroundings. This is the second Maharishi Vastu rammed earth home to be built in Western Australia.

Strip floorings and a concrete pad support the rammed earth walls which are internal as well as external. The owners say the earthen walls give them a feeling of connectedness to nature and the earth as well as a sense of strength and longevity.

The 250 SM (2682 SF), square shaped house has a well-balanced clerestory (cupola) allowing the light to flood in from all directions. Large floor to ceiling windows in the dining area give more natural light to the interior. The east entrance is recessed for cover with timber and glass doors as well as a skylight providing light to that area.

A large lot allowed for a studio workshop to be built at the back of the house. A patio area for relaxation and entertaining connects the two buildings. Judy has adorned the property with colorful gardens and landscaping. Water is collected in two 10,000 liter cistern tanks for most of the house requirements. Grey water from the house is then used to irrigate fruit trees and rose bushes.

Bob comments: “My wife and I owner-built ( general contracted) which saved us a lot of money as well as allowing us to oversee the process to ensure the house conformed to the Vastu principles. Overall, the planning and building process was pretty much hassle free, much easier than we had anticipated in taking it on! We had moved from a very large house and thought we would always miss the old house and spacious property but in fact, we find that we love this new house so much that we would never think of moving anywhere else. The house has such a feeling of peace and harmony and we find that our whole life and relationships just seem to be happier. It is commonly remarked upon by visitors that the house is just such a nice place to be. In fact, the house and the gold gilded kalash have become something of a feature in the neighborhood. The golden kalash fits in really well and does come across as ‘odd’ to anyone.”

Thanks to Bob and Judy for a special Maharishi Vastu home and for sharing a glorious example of the use of natural materials. For more pictures of the Jackson’s home visit the photo album on our facebook page.

Vedic Garden Design website

As we mentioned in our enews of August last year there is a new design service available to give Maharishi Vastu homeowners the opportunity to enhance their Vastu with a Vedic garden. The service now has a fascinating and informative website, maharishivedicgarden.com/home.html. Here you will be able to read about the origins of Vedic garden design, watch a lovely video, order a book and obtain details of the consultation services they offer.

Tiny Vastu Houses Fit the Need of the Time

The change in the world economy has brought about more creative thinking from those who have a desire to begin to build and live in Maharishi Vastu now. The trend we have been seeing over the last year can best be described as “go small”. People from around the globe, South Africa, Finland, Europe, Canada, the Ukraine, and the US are building small Vastu buildings to accommodate their needs and desires simultaneously.

In the US, the tendency has always been to enlarge your house as you moved from one home to another. In Europe, the tendency toward moderate sized dwellings has been established for many years. As people begin to consider building and owning a Vastu home, many must also consider selling their existing home in order to get financing for the new home construction. Some have realized that they do not need the larger space they are currently living in and have downsized to a moderate “retirement” home. Others have gotten even more creative and are building small, individual buildings for different functions, say an office or studio workshop with a meditation space in it, or, a bedroom, bath and meditation combination, or simply a meditation pavilion. These dwellings can go on the current property or a new site and range in size from 120 square feet to 1000 sf. They also bring the added benefit of more economical construction due to the simplicity of the interior space. Sometimes, a smaller Vastu home can be expanded later on, especially when the larger home is properly planned from the beginning of the consultation.

Two such homes, each approximately 650 SF ( 60 SM) are located on Salt Spring Island, near the town of Ganges and the island of Vancouver, BC, Canada. This is what one of the owners has to say about their experience. “Our Vastu cottage is 700 SF but feels much bigger. High ceilings and open plan with lots of windows contribute to a feeling of spaciousness. We were planning on building a larger residence in the future but to our surprise we find this small home very comfortable. Our Vastu home seems to breathe, almost as if it has life. The energy is strong and it feels like you are wrapped in warm, cozy blanket. It is most profound.”

To have the benefit of some time each day in a Maharishi Vastu building is a great blessing and will bring the coherence and support of nature to facilitate complete Vastu living. You can see a variety of smaller houses here, in our website portfolios or in a photo album posted on our Facebook page.

Many of the smaller homes in the portfolios can also accommodate modification of the interior to create a simple, open space. Please call or email our office to explore this option in more detail: 641 472 7570, info@MaharishiVastu.org.

New Zealand opportunities to “Taste” Vastu living

Since our last enews, we have received offers from Maharishi vastu homeowners in New Zealand who are eager to welcome anyone wanting to experience the deep silence, nourishing comfort and well-being associated with living in Vastu.

Following are their locations and descriptions for anyone that would like to take them up on their offer! Many of us would like to visit New Zealand where it is summer right now. And in fact with their climate, we would be delighted to visit all year round.

The Reynolds family own 2 houses in North Auckland.

The main house is approximately 200sqm (2000sq Ft.) with 2 stories, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The 2 guest bedrooms are upstairs and share their own bathroom. Downstairs is an open plan living/ kitchen, our bedroom and bathroom, and study. There is a large enclosed deck on the north (sunny) side. A guest house of 65sqm (700 SF) has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath and a large deck.

The houses are on 17 acres of gentle land with more than 200 fruit trees and a large vegetable plot which provides most of their fresh food. The outlook is over a hillside covered in native bush. The area is rural, 40 minute drive from Auckland, but only 20 minutes from the nearest beautiful beach (Orewa) and 10 minutes from the NZ Peace Palace Capital at Silverdale. Contact email: michaelreynolds96@yahoo.co.uk

The home of Murray Hight, in the farm land of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ is also available for B & B.

The house has 4 good size bedrooms, 2 large living areas, 2 baths and a meditation room. The house and garage are a spacious 271 sqm (2900 sf).

Heating is through a log burner plus a 8kw heat pump keeps the house cozy.

This house is located on 4ha (or 10 ten acres on the old scale), which makes for quiet, country living. Contact email: roslynfarm@gmail.com

Finally, the Muller house is in Wellington, the capital city of NZ.
This lovely house is 2 stories, 220sqm (2360 sf) with 3 bedrooms upstairs, one a guest bedroom/office, with a large bathroom with private bath and shower. The room for rent has a double bed and is spacious, with views out to the east.

Downstairs is the master bedroom, living areas and kitchen/dining.The area is very quiet, and they get wonderful early morning sun just 5 minutes after sunrise. Contact email: jon.muller@xtra.co.nz

Anyone who is considering a visit should note that the owners are all vegetarians and do not allow smoking or alcohol on the property.