By David Koh and Joe Choo | Oct 14, 2009
Feng Shui: Bukit Bandaraya
This week, our tour of Bangsar takes us to Bukit Bandaraya where we last left off. We touched on Bangsar Shopping Centre and noted that it was located at a high point. Indeed, Bukit Bandaraya is one of the main hills in Bangsar. (For Google map reference, please log on to http://maps.google.co.uk/ and search for “Kuala Lumpur”.)
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Condominiums vying with each other to be more exclusive than the other in Bukit Bandaraya
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To the north and north-west of the hill, there is a river, now a monsoon drain, that runs parallel to the Sprint Highway. Before the tolled highway was built, this was a narrow Damansara Road that wound around the hilly terrain and hugged the border of University Malaya.
Back in the old days, there was precious little of anything north of the university as it was considered the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The terrain was also considered too hilly (hence expensive) to develop for housing or commerce.
All that changed when consumers started leaning toward suburban homes where greenery can be found and the air is clean. It was long after Damansara Heights (Bukit Damansara) had started taking off. This area is considered even more exclusive than Bangsar.
Both residential and commercial properties here fetch high prices as they are favoured by the Malaysian elite, cabinet ministers and expatriates. These are the same clientele, we reckon, who frequent the night spots in Bangsar’s Telawi area, helping to boost the latter as a popular hangout for the young and hip.
River
However, our tour will not venture there just yet. Our point of interest is the river that embraces the foot of Bukit Bandaraya.
According to environology principles, earth energy comes down along the ground from the highest point until it reaches sea level. When the land meets a different medium of rigidity, say water, the energy cannot continue. It is bounced back or deflected along the banks, weakened and slowed down.
In terms of success and prosperity, it is this gentle and homogenous energy that we want, not the rapid-moving energy coming down the hill slopes. If the riverbank is curved, then its embracing (or “concave”) side is very conducive as its shape allows the rebounding energy to collect in the middle, much like a parabolic dish. The opposite side is more like an outer elbow (or “convex”) which deflects energy in a dispersal pattern. Thus, earth energy is not collected.
It is not uncommon to note in all cities where rivers run through, that sections of the cities that are on the concave side tend to be more prosperous, vibrant and successful than the convex side. You can also see this for yourself, thanks to the marvellous technology available today on the Internet. For example, Google Earth gives very clear satellite images of practically every surface on our planet.
Now, in the case of Bukit Bandaraya and its north-western side, the hill slope is very steep and it ends abruptly at the river. There is no room for earth energy to collect. As it arrives at the foothills and riverbank, the earth energy rebounds and it collides with even more energy coming behind it.
If we were to imagine earth energy as flowing water down a river, we can see that the energy flow here would be turbulent and chaotic, as opposed to the preferred gentle pool.
Competitive condos
Interestingly, most of the residences here are condominiums vying with each other to be more exclusive than the other. Regular landed properties were probably shunned by the developers as it would not be cost-effective since there is less income to be made compared to the multiple condominium units.
These abodes were deliberately built on high land to give their residents a commanding view of the hills or the cities, whichever the case may be. One wonders, though, as each new condominium is constructed, would it not block the view of the earlier occupants?
Thus, people who buy condominiums here may be unpleasantly surprised to see that the views they paid a premium for are no longer there after a few years.
Anyway, in this part of Bukit Bandaraya, we have condominiums galore. At the junction of Jalan Maarof and the Sprint Highway, there is Bangsar Puteri Condominium. Travellers along the Sprint will clearly recognise these homes.
First, they are just off the highway. Second, a distinctive feature is the exposed pillars or “stilts” below the buildings. The condo is in quite a good area in some aspects. For example, it is situated within the embrace of Jalan Maarof and the Sprint Highway.
Steep slope into river
On the other hand, we are concerned about the homes sitting on a slope whereby the entrance is higher than the back. This means energy is always bombarding the homes here. Furthermore, the slopes are steep and there is no flat area for the energy to collect.
This could mean that the occupants here are constantly struggling to find harmony in their family lives and spousal relationships; to prosper in their work or business; to stay healthy; and to have help from mentors or benefactors.
Since the condo has been around for a long time, it would be interesting to see if environology principles still work. Are the occupants faring well or poorly? What are the turnover rates of properties here?
Access to Bangsar Puteri is via Jalan Medang Seri. This road in turn connects to other Medang roads. Combined, they can cover all areas of Bangsar. There are many condos here: Sri Penaga, Bangsar Villa, Merak Kayangan Court, Merak Kayangan, Park Rose, Desa Bangsar Ria, Sri Kasturina, Bayu Angkasa, Impian Emas, Contessa Apartment; Beverly Hill Court; Verona Town Villa apartment, Tivoli Villas, Desa Bistari, Sri Bayu and Wang Wang
An alternative to facing downhill and a river would be to choose a property that follows the flow of the river – in this case, flowing from north to south-west. Therefore, apart from facing properties face down, one can also select homes that face south-east.
Hidden unhappiness
Unfortunately, these are not the criteria of architects, engineers and developers. Their concerns would be to maximise their space and get strong sales. Therefore, we feel that there could be a lot of unhappiness in the residences here, hidden from public view.
Sri Bayu is located within a horseshoe embrace of Jalan Medang Tanduk. However, if the building is constructed to face the concave (which is very good), it would then also face the hills (which is not good).
Occupants of non-conducive houses will experience a rollercoaster in their activities. There will be some ups and then some big downs. They must ask themselves whether they should move out or take the risk by staying put.
More condominiums are found off Jalan Penaga and Jalan Ara. These two roads, along with Medang Tanduk, form the circular boundary that connects and surrounds all these condominiums.
As mentioned earlier, most of these properties are orientated to give the occupants a good view from their balcony. That is why the buildings sit on slopes, so that they can catch a better view. That means, most of the properties would be facing uphill. We think, on average, many condominiums here are facing the wrong way, and it would be interesting to see how they have been fairing.
Landed properties
To the east of Bukit Bandaraya, there is an entire section of landed properties. The roads here are Kemaris, Bangkung, Jejawi, Tualang and Keruing. The land slopes gently from west to east. Thus, east-facing houses should do better than west or other directions.
What concerns us here is the presence of one-way streets. Almost every road here is a dead-end, something the residents may be proud of. Such a road layout would be easier in terms of security. Dead-end roads do not allow through traffic, and anyone entering it should have a legitimate reason to do so.
However, the same blockage is considered not good, environologically speaking. Energy cannot circulate freely and therefore becomes stale and depleted. This could be why many homes at the deep end of cul-de-sacs are typically rundown and in a bad condition. Houses at the beginning of the cul-de-sac are different. They still benefit from passing traffic along the roads outside the cul-de-sac.
Looking at the many cul-de-sacs here, it is possible that occupants in this area might not be doing very well. Furthermore, the layout of the road is such that houses here do not get to face downhill.
*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 35 years.
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