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SCIENTIFIC VASTU SHASTRA | SCHOOL | An Architect Explains

Vaastu Shastra is a science that takes into account factors influencing the Site, such as topography, roads, the structures around, the Sun, the Earth’s magnetic field, the cardinal directions and the elements of Nature and manipulates them so that the buildings designed according to Vaastu guidelines vibrate with universal positive energy.

IMPORTANCE OF VASTU SHASTRA IN DESIGNING SCHOOLS:

A school is often better known as the second home for a child. Vastu for schools is gaining popularity these days as it is believed to create a positive and conducive learning environment for students. Vastu is not just about the physical structure of the school but also about creating a positive and conducive learning environment for the students and enhance the academic performance and overall development of students. It is, therefore crucial to apply Vastu rules in  constructing or renovating a school. Read on to ensure that the principles are correctly applied…

school building
A school building exterior must be low maintenance, yet stimulating and notable
APPLYING VASTU SHASTRA TO SCHOOLS

According to Vastu Shastra, the direction and placement of classrooms, libraries, playgrounds, and administrative offices can affect the energy flow in the school.  Listed here, are some of the Vastu Guidelines for a School. Since Vastu Shastra is a science, every guideline is based on logic and reasoning.  

As an Architect, I have attempted to explain each of these guidelines rationally and scientifically under the following headings, so that you have flexibility and can decide what you want to follow or what you don’t, instead of looking at Vastu Shastra as a superstition with set rules:
What are the Vastu guidelines for the selection of the plot for a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the main building in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the main entrance in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the administrative block in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the best direction to study in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the classrooms in a school?
What are the general Vastu guidelines for classrooms in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the playground in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the library in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the laboratory in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the canteen in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the toilets in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the water bodies in a school?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the location of the electrical systems in a school?




 

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE SELECTION OF THE PLOT FOR THE SCHOOL?

When selecting a plot for the institution, it is essential to choose a large and preferably rectangular or square-shaped plot. The shape and size of the plot can influence the flow of energy within the campus. The Reason: It is easier to design a building on rectangular lines since this allows for a good flow of interior spaces. Also, the proportion of the rectangle’s sides is most suitable in designing rooms. 

Ensure that the ground and roof of the entire institution slope down towards the East or North direction. This promotes overall development and creates a harmonious environment for students and teachers.


 WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING?

The School building should be positioned in the South, West and South-West. Leave more open spaces towards the East and North-East. The Logic– In India, (being in the northern hemisphere near the equator), there is constant light form the North, through the year. Hence it makes sense to have open spaces in the North, so that the light is not obstructed and can permeate into the School buildings. Similarly, the Main entrance door can be here as it can be easily accessed from the open spaces.

The height of the South-West building should be higher than the North-East building. The Scientific Reason – The basic rule in Vastu is that the building should be higher in the South and West sides and should be much lower in the North and East sides. By keeping the North and East sides much lower, constant sunlight from the North and morning sunlight from the East can reach all parts of the building, whereas  by raising the building on the South and West sides, the hot evening sun will be prevented from heating up the rest of the building. 


 WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL?

The main gate of the school/college/university can be in the East, North, West, or South directions. The main gate should be clean, and no obstructions like electric poles or big trees should be in front of it. The Reasoning  A tree or electric post will feel like an obstruction when one is about to enter or go out through the gate.

The main entrance door to the School should face the East or the North direction. This is believed to bring in positive energy and good fortune for both the students and the school. The Scientific reason – Its preferable to have more openings in the North and East to allow the useful sunlight constantly, through the day. Lots of openings in the East will ensure that the UV rays of the morning sunlight can engulf the interior of the house and destroy the bacteria that would have multiplied during the night. Since the rising Sun represents the essence of all beginnings, having the main door here is a sign of veneration to the Sun. 

school entrance arch

The administrative block is the first building that one sees on entering a school campus.


WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK IN A SCHOOL?

School is not only about classrooms. It also includes an office area where the major administration work is done. The administrative office includes the reception area, the principal’s office, the accounts department, cashier, meeting rooms, staff rooms etc. 

The administrative block is an important part of the school, and its location can impact the overall functioning of the school. The administrative block should be situated in the South-West direction of the school as it brings in stability and strength. The Scientific reason– The North, East and North-East directions are reserved for the classrooms, playground and library. So the South-West is suitable for the administrative block. 

Owner or principal’s office must be constructed in South-west or South direction  in the Administration building. She/he should sit facing North. The Scientific reason– In Vastu Shastra, the South-West direction is considered to be the earth element, which is associated with stability, strength, and successIt’s believed that aligning important spaces in this direction can bring financial and emotional well-being. Hence the belief that one of the most important rooms in a school, where admissions take place and important decisions are made should be in the South-West.

The reception area must be located in the Eastern or Northern side. It is the first place any visitor goes to enquire after entering the school campus. This should be right after the main entrance of the school. The Scientific Reason– The reception counter and visitors seating are considered the least heavy of all furniture arrangements. Hence they can be placed in the North or East where there is a lot of light and will not be an obstruction. Moreover, a visitor gets a good first impression, if the reception is well lit.

The receptionist should sit facing the North or East direction while interacting with visitorsThe Reason– Since the receptionist is sitting at the reception desk  for most of the day, it would help if she gets useful, constant light through the day, as it will make her energetic, positive and is good for her health.

The accounts department and cashier room must be located in the Eastern or Northern side. This maintains the financial stability and even escalates the growth of the school funds. Avoid in the South-West corner. The Scientific Reason– The accounts office handles accounts sheets and it is important that there is clarity and focus while handling them.  Hence tit is ideal to have the accounts department in the North or East where there is a lot of light.

Meeting rooms must be situated in North with East facing door. The Reason– Since the useful, morning sunlight from the East and constant light  from the North make everyone energetic, and positive it is ideal to have the meeting rooms in these directions so that something positive comes out of these discussions.

Staff room must be made in North-West. This makes teachers more efficient and wiser. The Reason–In the administrative block, the South-West is reserved for the  Principal’s office, the North-East is preferred for the reception and the meeting rooms should be in the North. So the remaining North-West corner is ideal for the staff room, where the constant light  from the North will make everyone energetic and positive.

Administrative Block
The Administrative block should be impressive

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT IS THE BEST DIRECTION TO STUDY IN A SCHOOL?

According to Vastu Shastra rules, the best direction to study is East and one can also face North direction while studying. The Logic – Students always start School in the morning as their brain and body are fresh after a well rested sleep. At dawn, the morning sunlight enters a building from the North-East and as the morning progresses, it enters from the East. This morning sunlight is very useful to the human body (synthesis of vitamin D) and by exposure to it, the student can derive a lot of health benefits. Also it lights up the classroom and allows him to see and read better. 

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE CLASSROOMS IN A SCHOOL?

The classrooms (especially for secondary school students) should be located in the East, North, or North-East direction, as these directions are considered to be auspicious for learning. The Reason- The NE corner is the ideal place for meditation and concentration and hence suited for studying. The East is also a good location for a study room as it has the advantage of the morning sunlight. And the North direction always gets constant sunlight. So the North, East or North-East are the best directions for classrooms.


WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR CLASSROOMS IN A SCHOOL?

Classrooms should be planned with entrance in the East and blackboard in the West. The Logic – It is very important to have well lit classrooms without too much glare on the blackboard. This can be achieved by lighting up the blackboard with bright light from the East and North. So for this the board should be on the West and the openings should be on the East and North. 

The windows of the classrooms should be in the East or the North direction. The Logic – It is very important to have well lit classrooms without too much glare, and this can be achieved by having windows in the East, which will admit the early morning sunlight and in the North which let in in constant sunlight through the day.

Students should be seated in such a way that they face the East or North direction. This helps them concentrate better during the sessions. The Logic –Students start classes in the morning as their brain and body are fresh after a well rested sleep. The morning sunlight enters from the East. This morning sunlight is very useful to the human body (synthesis of vitamin D) and by exposure to it, the student can derive a lot of health benefits. Also it lights up the room and allows him to see and read better. Also, in India, (being in the northern hemisphere near the equator), there is constant light form the North,  through the year. So it makes sense to seat the students facing East and North.

Platform of teacher’s desk must be made a little higher than the classroom floor. The Logic –The teacher can have an overall view of the classroom, including the back benchers. This makes the presence of the teacher felt in the class and enhances the efficiency of the teacher and students both. Also, to enable the back benchers to clearly see the blackboard, it is better if the teacher’s desk is on an elevated platform in font of the blackboard. 

Beams in the classroom must be constructed carefully ensuring that no student sit under the beam. The Reason – When you sit in a room with an exposed beam, it will constantly disturb your peripheral eye vision. So it is better to conceal the beam.

Well lit classroom
Classrooms must be well-lit

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE COLOURS IN THE CLASSROOMS IN A SCHOOL?

The walls of the classrooms should be painted in light colours such as pale yellow, light blue, or light green. These are colours of mercury, which has a great impact on writing and reading skills. The Logic – It is very important to have  well lit classrooms without too much glare, and this can be achieved by using light colours. Light colours make a room appear bigger and brighter as the light colours reflect and re-reflect the light. It is also believed that light colours have a calming effect on the students.

The exterior colour of the main building can be maroon, light yellow, light green, or cream.


WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE PLAYGROUND IN A SCHOOL?

The playground or sports facilities should be situated in the North-West direction. Or it should be constructed in the Eastern portion. This enables students to remain energetic and fills them with enthusiasm. The Scientific reason – Either of these directions are best for outdoor activities and games as they receive maximum sunlight, which is essential for the growth and development of the students.

school playground
The School playground must be on the East

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE LIBRARY IN A SCHOOL?

Library in the school should preferably be in Western portion. It can also be located in the North-East direction. The Scientific reason – The NE corner is the ideal place for meditation and concentration and hence suited for studying. Also it has the advantage of the morning sunlight. The West is also a good location for a library as it is the hottest area of a built-space. The heat prevents any kind of dampness or fungal growth from forming on the books stored for long periods on the shelves in the library.

The books should be placed on the West or South walls but facing the East or the North. The Scientific reason – The constant light from the North and the morning sunlight from the East allows one to see and read the book titles better.

Library

The library building must be in the West

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE LABORATORY  IN A SCHOOL?

The Laboratory in a school/institute should be in the South-East. The Reason – The South-East is ruled by the fire element (Agni), making it suitable for activities involving high heat, electrical equipment, and research, which are central to laboratory work. 

The students should face the East or the North. The Scientific reason – The constant light from the North and the morning sunlight from the East allows one to see better.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE CANTEEN  IN A SCHOOL?

The best location for the pantry or canteen in a school/institute is in the South-East or North-West zone. The Reason – This is adapted from the Vastu guideline for kitchens in a house. (In earlier times, when the cooking was done on open stoves outside the house and combustible building materials were prone to catch fire, the cooking fire was preferred in the S-E corner or the N-W corner, where the hot summer wind, blowing from the S-W to the N-E direction could not cause damage by carrying sparks).

The person who serves the food to the students should stand facing the East direction. This ensures that the students are not left hungry, and they return with content and filled stomachs. The Reason – The early morning sunrays are very beneficial to health and the UV rays of the sunlight kill germs. Hence the sunlight from the East should be allowed into the Canteen where germs thrive and multiply. Moreover, the sunlight is good for the health of the person who is busy in the kitchen in the mornings and doesn’t have the time to go out and get exposed. Also the food is well lit and looks appetizing when it is flooded with light.

School Canteen

The School Canteen must be flooded with light

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE TOILETS IN A SCHOOL?

The appropriate location for the Toilet is the  South-West or West direction. Ad ideally, the students should face South-North or West while using the toilet. The Reason – The toilets are preferred in the South-West, the hottest corner, because they serve as buffers to the rest of the building. Moreover, the heat prevents dampness and algae to form in the constantly wet toilets.

If there are multiple floors with a toilet on every floor, then all the toilets should be one below the other in the same direction. The Reason– The vertical stack system allows for gravity-assisted waste removal. Waste from upper floors can flow directly down into the main drain line, minimizing the need for extensive horizontal piping. Also, vertical stacks are easier to access and maintain than horizontal runs hidden within walls or floors and in the long run, simplified plumbing systems can lead to cost savings in construction and maintenance.

School Toilets
The School Toilets should ideally be bright and well-lit

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE WATER BODIES/TANKS IN A SCHOOL?

Water-related elements like water fountains, swimming pools, and underground tanks should be placed in the North, East, or North-East direction. The Logic -Since Vastu recommends that the North-East corner of a site be left open, to allow the useful morning sunrays to enter the House,  it makes sense to have both the underground tanks, swimming pools in this corner (since they are anyway under the ground or at ground level and will not obstruct the light). 

The overhead water tank should be in the South-West direction of the building. The Reasoning: The South-West corner of a building should be the heaviest, to create a balance of positive energies in the house/building. So its ideal to have the water tank here.

 


WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN A SCHOOL?

The electrical systems, including the generator, electric meter, main switch, and fuse, should be located in the South-East direction. Proper fire-fighting equipment should be available in the South-East area.

By following these Vastu tips, educational institutions can create a positive and harmonious environment that enhances the learning experience and contributes to the overall growth and success of the students. Share these tips with educational institutions to help them achieve their full potential.



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