Properties from a feng shui perspective: Part 126
By David Koh and Joe Choo | Feb 5, 2010
Sri Hartamas Garden
Prior to the development and rising popularity of Desa Sri Hartamas, the Hartamas area was primarily Taman Sri Hartamas. This was a narrow strip of development sandwiched by the present Sprint Highway (formerly part of Jalan Bukit Kiara) and the Setiakasih section of Damansara Heights. (For Google map reference, please log on to http://maps.google.co.uk/ and search for “Kuala Lumpur”.)
Access to Taman Sri Hartamas was a little difficult as there was no through-road from Damansara Heights. Traffic had to go round Persiaran Bukit Kiara, Jalan Bukit Kiara and on to Jalan 19/70a. On the right, there was Taman Jalan Sri Hartamas and on the left, the road led to Jalan Segambut.
This was a very desolate environment, which probably explained the reluctance of home buyers to commit in the early days.
The main road in this township is Jalan Sri Hartamas 1 which runs the entire length of the township. The road runs in a south-west/north-east direction. The south-west end loops in on itself. Jalan Sri Hartamas 2 branches out from near this end, runs parallel to the main road and rejoins the main road. On the other side, Jalan Sri Hartamas 3 does the same.
In terms of landform, this area comprises several hill ridges that run parallel to the main roads. These are like fingers running side-by-side. Although this forms valleys in which direction earth energy flows, there is no “third wall” or river to create a barrier that traps the earth’s energy.
IDEAL LANDFORM
According to ancient environology principles, earth energy flows from high land to low, and it is deflected and reflected when it reaches a body of water. An ideal landform is one where there is high land on three sides and a river on the fourth. Earth energy pours into the valley surrounded by these walls and is softened and “homogenised” when it reaches the river. Thus, a good and conducive location would be within the valley in the direction of the river.
In the present scenario, there is high land on two sides but not the third. Thus, the valley is like a trough that allows energy to run off, like rain in a gutter. There is no energy collected here, and thus, the landform does not benefit home dwellers here.
Properties on the west side of Jalan Sri Hartamas 2 (backing the Sprint Highway) are actually sitting on one of the ridges. The land dips on both sides of the properties. This means it does not receive but instead is drained of energy.
Fortunately, further to the west, there are higher mountains that contribute strong energy. Some of these are likely to wash across the valley and over these ridges. Thus, there could still be some gentler energy here to mitigate matters, and things may not be that bad.
On the other hand, houses on the opposite side face uphill, with their backs sloping downward to the valley-between-ridges. These are not as conducive as their neighbours across the road.
GOOD LOOP
The loop formed by the end of Jalan Sri Hartamas 1 is actually quite good, for those within that loop. The road forms a complete embrace to trap energy.
Jalan Sri Hartamas 3 runs alongside another ridge. This strip of high land separates Taman Sri Hartamas from Damansara Heights’ Setiakasih section. Properties can be found on only one side of this road. Those directly facing this road also face high land, which is considered not conducive.
Sandwiched between Jalan Sri Hartamas 1 and 3 are many rows of properties that are perpendicular to these roads. Jalan Sri Hartamas 4, 5, 6 and 9 are dead-end roads coming out from Jalan Sri Hartamas 3. Dead-end roads are considered a no-no because they do not allow through-traffic which helps circulate energy.
Though dead-end roads can be cordoned off to provide better security, and a lack of passing-through traffic also makes these roads relatively safer for children, they are not conducive in environology. Energy that does not circulate will become stagnant.
Houses at the end of these roads typically have more space and are usually more prized and sought-after. Unfortunately, these are also where the stagnation is most noticeable. Hence, properties at the end of dead-end roads tend to fare poorly compared to those at the beginning of such roads – they still benefit from moving traffic at the main road.
GOOD COMPROMISE
Jalan Sri Hartamas 10 connects to 11 and 16 before rejoining Sri Hartamas 3. There is also a cut-through via Jalan Sri Hartamas 14. This is a good compromise as security is created by cordoning off only two ends of the road, while there is still traffic circulation. Properties along these roads that face downhill, into the valley, are likely to do better than those that face uphill.
Mind you, the overall impact is still not that great compared to other areas where the landform is embraced by a “claw” or high ridges or ranges on three sides. Even a mediocre location of such a landform is better that the best of landforms here.
Within the Sri Hartamas 10, 11 and 16 loop, there are several dead-end roads. Despite being considered as more exclusive than the others, it is likely that the occupants find continued success to be elusive or a struggle, due to the stagnant energies here.
Jalan Sri Hartamas 18 runs parallel to Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, and is accessed via two roads off Jalan Sri Hartamas 1. Properties within the loop formed by these two roads and Jalan Sri Hartamas 1 and 18 will likely do better than their counterparts located at the dead-end tips of Jalan Sri Hartamas 18. Those that face downhill will also be comparatively better than those that face uphill.
As Jalan Sri Hartamas 3 curves to rejoin Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, it embraces SK Sri Hartamas. The school can benefit from the embracing road if the main building is oriented to face the curve but this is unadvisable because beyond that curve is a hill. Facing the curve would mean facing a hill, which is a no-no.
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The entire Plaza Damas project sits on high land
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MENARA HARTAMAS
Sitting on the foot of the hill is Menara Hartamas condominium. The buildings were constructed to ring the foot of the hill. The best direction for the condo units to face is outward away from the hill. This may mean facing the outer elbow of the road, which dampens the conduciveness of the orientation, but it is certainly better than facing the hill proper.
As it is, the property sits on the elbow anyway and the impact will be there regardless. It is better then, to mitigate with a good facing direction. Unfortunately, the building’s entrances are all located on the side that faces the hill. The rationale is probably to provide an uncluttered view from the balcony.
As we move further up Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, we come to Jalan Sri Hartamas 17. This road encircles Plaza Damas, Hartamas Shopping Centre and several posh-sounding condominiums and studio apartments, such as Waldorf, Dorchester, Windsor and Mayfair, before rejoining the main road.
By all accounts, this is an integrated project, including the upcoming Plaza Damas 3. There is plenty of retail and commercial space here. The demographics of the surrounding areas are ideal. The residential properties here are abundant and even well-positioned through clever marketing.
Yet, the project does not seem to be taking off as wildly as similar projects such as the Mid Valley Megamall. Even on a busy day, the crowd is quite thin. The food and beverage sector seems to do reasonably well with the lunch crowd, but even then, something seems amiss. Even neighbouring Desa Sri Hartamas and Mont Kiara seem to draw a better and more vibrant crowd.
SUCCESSFUL MARKETING
We do not think this is due to poor marketing or positioning. The properties here are actually quite over-priced – possibly due to an extremely successful marketing campaign! Thus, property speculators looking to make ton of money may find trouble off-loading their purchases as second-hand buyers may be balking at the asking prices. The wave of speculator interest could also have prompted the developer to raise the price tag on subsequent developments.
Thus, with few who actually buy to live there, there may not be that many people living in the neighbourhood to provide the critical mass needed to make Plaza Damas and Hartamas Shopping Centre a really happening place. Traffic jams during peak hours, particularly with the poorly-timed traffic lights at Jalan 19/70a to Sri Hartamas 1, also deter people from visiting this area during lunch and dinner.
Perhaps this was poor traffic control. Perhaps there is a conspiracy to discourage people from going to Taman Sri Hartamas. Perhaps it is just plain bad luck.
Perhaps we can offer an alternative explanation, though we fear current investors may not like the news. Landform-wise, the property sits on a ridge, which makes it higher than the surrounding properties along Jalan Sri Hartamas 17. Furthermore, that ridge climbs further to reach a hill, where the new Istana Negara is being constructed.
That means the entire Plaza Damas project sits on high land, faces even higher land, and has its back sloping downhill. This is not a conducive orientation. Neither is the orientation of the houses that line Jalan Sri Hartamas 17, as they all face higher ground, too.
Properties that face uphill are constantly bombarded with fast-moving energy flowing down toward them. Such energy can be overpowering and this is not conducive to people living or working there. The project would like fare better if the entrances to the buildings were oriented to face north-west and west, towards lower ground.
*This series on feng shui and real estate properties appear courtesy of the Malaysia Institute of Geomancy Sciences (MINGS). David Koh is the founder of MINGS and has been a feng shui master and teacher for the past 36 years.
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