james678-ga,
Here I will focus exclusively on Vastu Shastra/Feng Shui for
restaurant design, but first lets go over some basic definitions, so
as to lay a foundation for the subsequent discussion. Vastu Shastra
is basically the Indian version of traditional Feng Shui. From
clickwalla.com [http://www.clickwalla.com/article.php?cid=70&aid=578
]:
The short definition of Feng Shui is that we live harmoniously with
the energy of the surrounding environment determined by the art of
placement.
So, Vastu Shastra is the Indian flavor of Feng Shui, which is
applied in many types of interior decorating and design. Here is some
more information from the same clickwalla.com page [
http://www.clickwalla.com/article.php?cid=70&aid=578 ]:
The practice of the art of placement can include: traditional Feng
Shui, modern interpretation of Feng Shui, geomancy, dowsing, space
clearing, astrology and Vastu Shastra. Vastu Shastra is so new to the
West that leading international Feng Shui consultant, Bilkis Whelan
explains, 'Its so new you cant even get books on it.'"
Now Bilkis is writing one, which is due to be released in Europe and
the USA.
[Note: I provide a link to information on this book later on in this
examination]. The expert also points out that although Vastu Shastra
is described as the Indian version of Feng Shui, the two are as
different as a stir-fry and biryani.
Bilkis is international Feng Shui consultant, Bilkis Whelan. See
Google Search Results page for keywords, Bilkis Whelan (there are
many relevant results):
[://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%E2%80%9CBilkis+Whelan%E2%80%9D&btnG=Google+Search
]
As a good source of basic background information, the following link
is to the U.K. Feng Shui Society:
For more information on Feng Shui and how it works check
[www.fengshuisociety.org.uk ]
Okay, at this point lets move on to Vastu Shastra as it applies
specifically to restaurants. The following link is to a professional
Indian Vastu consultants page dedicated to Vastu Shastra for
restaurants:
[http://www.indian-vastu-consultant.com/restaurant-refreshment-center.html
].
On this page, they list some points to consider when we choose a land
or doing construction or buy a building as well as take any place on
rent for restaurant & refreshment center. Here is the list:
-Examine the land & building by vastu rules, as well as slope,
nearest road ,shape of land.
-Location of land (nearest places)
-Direction of Main gate
-Position of reception counter & direction of cash counter
-Location of dinning hall
-Location of kitchen
-Direction of fast food center
-Appropriate place for snacks & sweets counter
-Appropriate direction of bar
-Location of toilet & direction of wash basin
-Location of store
The following link is to the Indian Vastu form page where they accept
your queries as to potential jobs. You might, for example, describe
the space youre thinking of working with, and ask them how Vastu
Shastra might best be applied to it. Heres the link to the form
(theres no fee to submit a query):
[http://www.indian-vastu-consultant.com/query.html ].
The next link is to Indian Vastu Consultants Benefits of
Vastushastra page:
[ http://www.indian-vastu-consultant.com/benefits-of-vastu-shastra.html
].
And, heres a link to their description of Vastu Shastra for the
domestic kitchen, which may have some relevance to restaurants,
especially smaller ones:
[http://www.indian-vastu-consultant.com/kitchen.html ].
The following paragraph, from Vastu Creations: the Art of Sacred
Livings website [http://www.vastucreations.com/testimonials.htm ] is
a testimonial from a client as to how much Vastu Shastra helped with
their restaurant:
I asked Michael and Robin Mastro to assist me with the selection and
the remodel of a preexisting structure for my restaurant. The results
were dramatic and customers always comment not only on how delicious
the food is, but how attractive and welcoming the bistro feels. Within
months of working with Vastu Creations, my restaurant has been
recognized as one of the most successful in the greater Seattle area!
My Linh T, restaurant owner, Kirkland, WA
Heres a link to Vastu Creations Services webpage, wherein they
describe the different ways they can apply Vastu Shastra for you:
[http://www.vastucreations.com/services.htm ].
The following passage discusses Feng Shui as applied specifically to
restaurants. It refers to the fire element in particular. Its from
Floor2Roof.com [http://www.floor2roof.com/reference/feng/feng_every_business.asp
]:
If you are engaged in the restaurant trade, try to concentrate
especially on getting the Feng Shui of the kitchen right. Restaurants
that have a red décor tend to do well because this color complements
the natural fire element of the business. Well-lit restaurants also
have the power to pull in the customers-perhaps because lights also
belong to the element of fire.
Dimly lit restaurants seldom do as well but do differentiate between a
restaurant and a bar, which belongs to the water element. In such
cases the color red, and bright lights, would be unsuitable instead,
the complementary color to use is black or dark blue. Hence, it is
preferable that such establishments are dimly lit. Restaurants with
wall mirrors, symbolizing the doubling of customers, also do well, as
do restaurants that display live fish (for eating) in a glass tank,
thought these must be placed in either the north (water) or eastern
and south eastern (wood) sectors of the restaurant's dining area.
Finally, it is auspicious for restaurants to display large figurines
depicting happiness and a fully tummy. It is for this reason that
Chinese restaurants often display a large (some tomes life-size)
statue of the laughing Buddha, complete with his fat stomach.
Here is an excellent article from the San Jose Mercury News, April 16,
2002, by Carolyn Jung, entitled The chef's path to kitchen harmony --
RESTAURANTS TURNING TO FENG SHUI IN QUEST FOR BALANCE AND PROSPERITY:
[ http://www.pathwayslt.com/article.html ].
Heres an excerpt from the above article:
At Don Ramon's restaurant in San Francisco, the hostess stand had to
have flowers. Not just any flowers, but roses.
At Betelnut Pejiu Wu in San Francisco, the decor had to be red. At
PlumpJack Squaw Valley, the seasonal menu had to include fire, earth,
metal, water and wood elements. And at Crimson in Los Gatos, it was
all about the bathroom.
Heres another quality article, from the Manila Times, on
manilatimes.net , entitled: Feng Shui for Restaraunteurs, by
Lawrence Chin:
[http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2003/aug/13/life/20030813lif3.html
].
The following is an excerpt from the anove article:
In a restaurant business, Feng Shui recommends achieving business
success through a combination of good backing, good cashflow,
progress, and savings. The image of a mountain scene at the back wall
represents good backing. With this, the owner will be able to make
decisions that will be backed by his partners, investors, relatives,
legal, government, etc.
To round out our look at Vasu Shastra, heres a link to Amazon.coms
Reviews page for leading Vasu Shastra consultant Bilkis Whelans new
book, Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons:
[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0823055914/103-4706244-1951834?v=glance&vi=reviews
].
Below I will cover the search strategies I used to obtain this
information, and which will allow you to learn more yourself.
Google search strategy:
Keywords,
Vasu Shastra:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=vasu+shastra ,
Feng Shui:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=feng+shui
,
Vasu Shastra for restaurants:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Vasu+Shastra+for+restaurants&btnG=Google+Search
,
Feng Shui for restaurants:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Feng+Shui+for+restaurants&btnG=Google+Search
,
Bilkis Whelan:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%E2%80%9CBilkis+Whelan%E2%80%9D&btnG=Google+Search
,
Bilkis Whelan restaurants:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%E2%80%9CBilkis+Whelan%E2%80%9D+restaurants
I hope this satisfies your need for information on this subject. If it
does not, or if anything Ive written here is not clear to you, please
do not hesitate to ask for Clarification to this Answer.
May the elements of fire, water, earth, wood and metal always be with
you!
Sincerely,
omniscientbeing-ga
Google Answers Researcher |