Architectural Substitute

Since someone isn't around to give us all random architectural notes of interest to a select few, I'll do my best to pick up the slack.

So here is an article on the fire stopping potential of Vedic architecture.

On October 25, 2003, a fire began near the mountain town of Ramona in San Diego County, California. Fueled by acres of dry brush and fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, the Cedar Fire spread rapidly, burning 273,246 acres, destroying 2,232 homes, and killing 14 people. According to Jeff Harter, battalion chief of the California Fire Plan, California Department of Forestry, the speed and ferocity of the blaze "were heart stopping."

Jeanette Worland watched the fire approach across the hills, while her husband, Paul, hosed down the new home he had designed and built according to the principles of Maharishi Vedic Architecture. Pushed by 40 to 60 mph winds, the fire roared up to their home around midnight, then made a sudden 90 degree shift and passed directly outside of the house's Vastu fence. This sudden shift allowed the Worlands to evacuate – and it saved the house and everything in or near it. After shifting the blaze away from the house, minutes later the wind shifted back to its original direction and consumed the acreage directly behind the home.

The astonishing jog of the fire around the house was confirmed the next day by two fire fighters who noted with amazement that the fire seemed to lack the "desire" to destroy this house. Five other Maharishi Sthapatya Ved houses located within the fire’s path were similarly spared with only smoke damage. One of the five was the only house among several in a cul-de-sac not to burn.

Seriously, I have no clue. I'll just quote some more.

Although not familiar with the Maharishi Sthapatya Ved system, the basic principles Borden was taught, outlined on his website vastu-design.com align with Lipman’s. Both architects also stress the importance of laying out a building according to an earth energy grid, siting a residence in alignment with the owner’s birth time, the specific placement of entry doors, and the necessity of a Brahmastan, or central courtyard.

Irrespective of the alleged wild fire stopping powers, I've always liked the idea of a 'Brahmastan' and appreciate now having an exceptionally cool word by which to call it. Of course to have one requires one having enough funds to build a house large enough to really utilize one. I dare say that is not the majority.