Sembawang Portico Site Plan

In this article, the discussion will take a slightly different emphasis. Beyond identifying potential Feng Shui afflictions that applicants may wish to take note of during the selection process, which readers who have followed the earlier articles should by now have little difficulty recognizing, this review also serves as an opportunity to introduce the basic concept of 形势风水 or the Four-Sided Form Assessment (四象风水), which forms part of Form Feng Shui evaluation. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of the external physical environment through the relationship between the left, right, front, and rear surroundings.

While Qi evaluation, referring to the more formless energetic influences that often require compass measurements and calculations, is commonly discussed, the external physical environment remains one of the earliest and most important considerations in traditional practice. With this in mind, let us first examine both sites through this lens.

Relative to some of the previous BTO projects discussed in this series, the potential Form Afflictions arising from surrounding stacks appear comparatively fewer in both Sembawang Brook and Sembawang Portico. Some relatively straightforward and visually identifiable examples include Stack 118 in Sembawang Brook, which may potentially experience influence from Stacks 100 and 124, while in Sembawang Portico, Stack 437 may similarly be affected by the positioning of Stacks 439 and 441.

Sembawang Brook - Examples of Potential Form Affliction

Sembawang Portico - Examples of Potential Form Affliction

For both developments, greater attention should perhaps be directed towards the potential influence of the Multi Storey Car Parks, particularly for lower floor units situated in close proximity, such as Stacks 102, 100, 122 and 120 for Brook, or Stacks 471, 473, 451 and 453 for Portico.

In addition, for Sembawang Portico, Stack 473 and 451 situated above the seven storey Multi Storey Car Park may need to take note of the visual gap created by the spacing between Stacks 403 and 425, which may potentially give rise to a visual Form Affliction.

That said, the larger consideration for both projects from an external Form Feng Shui perspective is not necessarily the visible structures within the site itself, but rather the number of surrounding unknown variables. Much of the surrounding environment remains undeveloped or yet to be finalized. These factors introduce a degree of uncertainty that cannot yet be fully assessed at present.

Among the two projects, Sembawang Brook deserves some additional discussion. At first glance, many readers may already recognize a familiar site configuration mentioned in the previous article, namely a development that follows a reverse road curvature. However, the key consideration is whether this curvature becomes visually apparent from the frontage view of the selected stack itself.

To the north of the site is land reserved for a proposed church. Further north lies the Sembawang God of Wealth Temple. Does living beside a 财神庙 necessarily improve one's wealth prospects? I believe most readers would recognize that Feng Shui does not work in such a simplistic manner.

In residential Feng Shui, there are certain building types generally considered less ideal to be situated in close proximity to residences, common examples being places of worship, hospitals, and facilities such as fire stations. This is not because such places are inherently negative, but rather because they may introduce environmental influences less suitable for a residential setting.

Chinese temples in particular often contain large incense burners that can potentially create certain forms of Affliction, especially where the burners become visually prominent from the residence itself. Likewise, the architectural forms of churches or temples may occasionally create certain types of Form Affliction such as Pointed Angle that may affect nearby residences.

Temple Architectural Form Example

Church Architectural Form Example

Hence, stacks facing these buildings should be mindful of potential considerations in the future, especially lower floor units, particularly Stacks 132 and 134. Nevertheless, the presence of Acacia Home may already help obstruct direct line of sight towards the Chinese temple for certain lower and mid floor units within Block 437A. However, possible noise-related concerns arising from religious festivals or ceremonial activities should still be taken into consideration. As for stacks located nearer to the proposed church site, this remains an unknown factor for now. Future building height, design characteristics, and architectural forms may or may not introduce additional concerns.

At the upper right side of the site are a proposed school and the existing Heavy Vehicle Park. Similarly, the eventual school design, including its height and physical form, remains uncertain. At present, it is also unclear whether sufficient structures or buffers will exist between the Heavy Vehicle Park and nearby residential stacks. If located too close to the Heavy Vehicle Park, which is generally not regarded as an ideal neighboring land use for residential developments, possible 声煞 and 光煞 concerns may arise.

Next, let us discuss the concept of Four-Sided Form Assessment (四象风水), which forms part of Form Feng Shui and focuses on evaluating the influence of the front, rear, left, and right surroundings upon a residence, assessing whether these configurations are favorable or otherwise. The term 四象 traditionally refers to the Four Symbols of Chinese cosmology, but in practical Feng Shui application, it may be understood more simply as examining the four sides of a residence, namely the front, rear, left, and right.

For this article, I will briefly introduce the considerations of the left and right sides of a residence (Landform Fengshui - The Dragon and Tiger). The first step is to establish how left and right are determined. In modern apartments, the direction facing outward from the living room or balcony window is commonly taken as the frontage of the unit. Once the frontage is established, the left and right sides naturally follow. See the figure below using Sembawang Portico Stacks 471 and 457 as examples.

Many readers would likely have heard the saying “男左女右”. While not a Feng Shui principle in itself, it serves as a useful starting point for introducing the left and right considerations within Form Feng Shui. Simply put, the left side is generally associated with the male occupant, while the right side is associated with the female occupant.

For Stack 457, the right side is relatively "empty" (空), meaning it does not adjoin another neighboring stack and instead opens towards a road. The left side, however, is supported by neighboring stacks and therefore forms a comparatively stronger presence. This creates a condition described as "right empty, left solid" (右空左实).

If interpreted in a straightforward manner, for an unmarried male, relationship prospects may be comparatively less favorable. Within a household setting, the female occupant may experience greater pressure, possess comparatively less influence within family dynamics, or encounter relatively weaker health conditions.

Why is this so?

In simple terms, emptiness (空) represents a lack of support. 空则无力. Where support is lacking, the associated symbolism is considered weaker in both presence and influence.

Conversely, Stack 471 presents the opposite condition of 左空右实, where the left side is relatively open while the right side receives stronger support from neighboring stacks.

For an unmarried female, relationship prospects may similarly be comparatively less favorable. Within a family environment, the female occupant may exhibit a stronger personality or greater capabilities, while the male occupant may encounter comparatively weaker health conditions or less favorable overall progress. Overall helpful support, or 贵人运, may also be lacking.

There is a Chinese saying, “左右逢源”. In residential Feng Shui, neither side should ideally exhibit significant deficiencies. Ideally, both sides should receive support from adjacent Forms, with the left side preferably being slightly higher, stronger, or more extended than the right.

Of course, the principles of 四象风水 extend far beyond these simplified examples. However, I personally feel that some basic concepts should be understood by the general public. Just as everyone benefits from foundational education, certain fundamental Feng Shui concepts may likewise help people make more informed decisions when selecting a home.

Image sources: HDB Sales Portal (artist’s impression and site plan).