Updated · 5 min read
Vastu Shastra was written for buildings in India, but its method is about direction, layout and use of space, so it can be read for a home anywhere. A review abroad starts from the same things as one in India: an accurate floor plan, the direction of north on that plan, and how each room is used.
Directions are read from the plan, not the country
The eight directions and the centre of the home are taken from a compass reading or a marked north on the plan. A flat in London, a condo in Toronto and a villa in Dubai are all read the same way. What differs is the building itself: open kitchens, attached garages, basements and shared walls are more common abroad, and a review works with them as they are.
Magnetic north and true north
A phone compass shows magnetic north. In some places, such as parts of North America, magnetic north and true north differ by several degrees. A review notes which north the plan uses, so the reading of each zone is consistent.
What about the southern hemisphere?
In Australia and other southern countries the midday sun is in the north rather than the south. Practitioners differ here: some keep the traditional directional rules unchanged, others adapt the guidance that depends on sunlight. A consultation should tell you which approach it uses before any advice is given.
What usually changes abroad
- Rented and strata homes leave little room for structural change, so room use, furniture and fittings come first
- Open-plan living means the kitchen and living zones are read together
- Basements, garages and lofts are reviewed for how they are used
- Building rules and lease terms apply before any alteration
How an online review works from another country
You share the plan, a north marker and photographs. The plan is studied before a video call at a time that suits your time zone, and you receive a written summary with priorities. Vastu is a traditional discipline and does not promise outcomes; the review gives a clear view of what matters in your home and what does not.