Structural design is vital in supporting a building. In fact it is analogous to the skeletal structure of the human body. In the interior design of a building, we often see structural design elements intentionally exposed by the designer, in the form of columns or blocks, for aesthetic reasons.
It is true that an interior designer, with the objective of creating a visually pleasing design interior, can often creatively position blocks or column constructions. Nevertheless, this creativity should be done meticulously and shrewdly, and combined with inputs from other fields of design, such as feng shui.
From the point of view of feng shui, the construction shape of a block or column can trigger unfortunate effects for occupants of the room. This happens because those shapes can attract negative qi (氣), hence generating negative effects.
Scientifically, this is logically explainable. All materials are made of atoms, and at the heart of every atom is a nucleus that consists of electrons, neutrons and protons, all of which are continuously moving. Because of this movement, vibrations occur. The movement of electrons creates an electromagnetic field.
A lot of scientific studies have found out that human bodies are sensitive to electromagnetic fields. Take the mineral contents of our blood, for instance. Iron is one of the vital minerals in our blood, and therefore the lack of it will create a lot of problems for our health. In addition, iron is also the cause why our bodies are sensitive to electromagnetic field, which also means that our bodies are sensitive to vibrations.
In the realm of feng shui, qi (氣) is basically neutral until it is exposed to a trigger, which will turn it into positive qi (氣) or negative qi (氣). The trigger can be both tangible and intangible, the tangible being the physical construction elements such as blocks and columns while the intangible can be found in time, smell or sound elements.
The creativity of an interior designer in designing a layout that incorporates the exposed structural element of blocks or columns can indeed be visually appealing. However, this is not advisable from the point of view of feng shui because these blocks can trigger negative qi (氣) for the room. As we know, blocks and columns are the parts of the building that carry the large weight of the entire structure so that it can stand sturdily. The weight flow that runs through these blocks and columns will emit vibrations, so this will affect the occupants that stay in the room, especially those who stay right underneath the blocks. This effect has a negative impact because of the weight flow from the blocks, and therefore the occupants of the room will not be able to give their best performance during their activities.
As everything comprises of atoms whose electrons are continuously moving, it is safe to say that everything causes vibrations. The vibrations emitted by the atoms in a structure’s blocks and columns can trigger negative qi (氣). In addition, the sharp edges of blocks and columns should also be avoided according to the principles of feng shui because they can also trigger negative qi (氣).
Feng shui experts would generally suggest that these blocks be covered by the ceiling, but ideally, we should avoid sitting or sleeping directly under the blocks. To counter the sharp edges of blocks and columns, we can camouflage these shapes into a part of cabinets or shelves. This way, we can avoid the sharp edges. But once again, it is advisable not to sit directly facing the columns.
Qi (氣) covers everything in our surroundings, and it dwells inside every living being. Therefore, the flow of qi (氣) and its existence should be arranged in such a way to give us a positive influence. In line with the yin yang (陰陽) theory, qi (氣) can be both positive and negative, depending on the triggers. Some of the tangible triggers that can create negative qi (氣) are the existence of blocks and columns where sharp edges are usually found. Therefore, we have to arrange these blocks and columns in such a way that they do not trigger negative qi (氣). Camouflaging these blocks and columns can minimise the negative effect, but it is more advisable to organise a more ideal interior design that adheres to the principles of feng shui so that the occupants of the room can gain maximum impact from the space.
That’s all I can share with you in this article. Be equilibrium.