Buildings and the five elements
Just as the four celestial animals mentioned in a previous article, the five elements also appear in the landscape, generating various relief forms. After a careful study of the features of each element, as well as the surrounding environment, the ancient Feng Shui masters have classified the relief forms according to the prevalence of a certain element.
As we do not live in the middle of the nature, I will stop to the features of the buildings and will not insist on the shapes of the mountains or hills.
The buildings built by people can be analyzed from the perspective of the five elements, taking into account their shape.
Wood
The high buildings (similar to trees) are within this category: skyscrapers, high blocks, chimneys of the factories etc. in order to place them in the category of “wood buildings” they should not have sharp roofs.
Metal
The buildings with round shapes, dome-like, as well as those having a lot of circular forms and arches, are in the metal category. In the past these shapes were often used and the modern architecture tends to repeat the patterns of the past.
Fire
Flames are usually represented by triangular, sharp shapes. The buildings containing such architectural elements are churches and temples, as well as the houses decorated with many small towers with sharp roofs. The houses with (usual) sharp roofs are also part of this category. Also the modern architecture includes many triangular elements, sharp and angular shapes, which sometimes affect the balance of the building, for not being harmoniously combined.
Water
Although water can only have the “shape of the vessel” where it is placed, in the theory of the five elements it is accepted that it has a non-regular, curved shape, wave-like. As far as buildings are concerned, they are hard to be included in the “water” category. The buildings with undefined shapes but which keep a general “wavy” form can represent the element water.
Earth
It is associated with the flat shapes and to the square / cube. The buildings with these features are in the category of the earth element.
Which professions will benefit of being “sheltered” in different types of buildings
Wood
The element wood is associated to the creation and growth. In wood-type buildings, services of care, catering, artistic professions etc. can develop their activity.
Metal
Usually the buildings with metal aspect are used for activity involving a great number of people, civil or state ceremonies.
Fire
The buildings containing the element fire in their design are appropriate for the activities having to do with learning (schools or libraries).
Water
Communication, intelligence and ambition are qualities associated to the element water. In such buildings theaters or business involving mass media, or computers, might be located.
Earth
The activities which might benefit from the association with the element earth are building industries, volontary work and health care services, financial investments.
