THE GREEN PARADE:
Architecture + Energy = Harmony
By Jennifer (Jena) L. Taylor / Architectural Drawings Courtesy of James K. Pool Architect & Associates
 Some homes and buildings exude a good feeling inside while others give off a negative feeling. The difference is energy. When like energies mix, by nature, the result is a harmonic balance – that “good feeling.” On the contrary, when unlike energy frequencies mix, negative energy creates a “bad feeling.” For these reasons, more people are using holistic architecture when designing a home or building.
Since everything is comprised of energy, it makes sense to incorporate the Laws of Energy when designing spaces for the well-being of the occupants. To achieve this, holistic architects utilize the laws of energy to produce beneficial physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This unconventional approach is based on science and mathematics as explained by Max Planck, Albert Einstein, and other well known quantum physicists.
When utilizing holistic architecture principles, the end appearance is no different than a traditional design.
In order to obtain the most positive energy, holistic architects design the footprint of a home or building according to Sacred Geometry principles, which date back to the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Indians, and Egyptians. Examples of Sacred Geometry exist repeatedly in nature, such as the hexagonal cell honey bees create to store their honey, and the chambered nautilus that grows at a constant rate so its shell forms a logarithmic spiral to accommodate growth. A component of Sacred Geometry, the Golden Ratio allows architects to create spaces that are in balance with like energies working together to create harmony.
The Golden Ratio is found naturally in curves, triangles, and ovals that are determined by a mathematical equation:
Ø = ( 1 + √ 5 )
= 1.618033988749894848204586834365638117720
The benefits of using this approach increase once like frequencies are matched. While this may sound like New Age ideas, remember that the discovery of quantum physics dates back to 1900.
Local architect, Jim Pool of James K. Pool Architect & Associates, has been studying the laws of energy for more than sixteen years and has begun incorporating them into his designs. “One of the most notable things about the laws of energy is that if you go against energy, chaos results,” notes Pool. “On the other hand, if you work with energy, harmony pervades.”
 This concept is easier to grasp when starting at ground level. The earth has energy, often referred to as a heartbeat, which one can feel. Thus, he earth, along with shape and color, all have frequencies. When a building is placed onto the earth, it meets the energy of the earth, resulting in either chaos or harmony. When the shape of the building is in balance with the frequency of the earth, the energy of harmony is emitted. Granted, this is an unconventional approach, but the actual design of the home may not look much different than a home designed without regard to energy and the Golden Ratio. Yet, the outcomes are much different.
By utilizing the Golden Ratio and Sacred Geometry in each module of the home, the result is a footprint that exists geometrically in nature.
One of the homes Jim Pool has designed utilizes the principles of holistic architecture with a floor plan that still reveals a conventional design. What is unseen is the positive affect this plan will have once it’s placed on the heartbeat, or energy spot, of the land. Before a design can be created, the architect must visit the land to find this spot and to discover the colors and materials of the land so those can be incorporated into the design for a full holistic effect.
This particular home will be located near a farming community. In considering the landscape and surrounding area, Pool added some hexagonal rooms, which are highly beneficial for meditation and the owner’s therapeutic energy work practice. On the exterior, these hexagonal rooms will be fashioned after silos to blend into the environment. Using eco-friendly practices and products is also part of holistic architecture, and is complementary architecture, and is complementary with Feng Shui practices.
This approach can be applied further to offer additional harmony and balance into a new home or building by applying the Golden Ratio and other Sacred Geometry forms to each room. In the end, the layout looks no different than a design without this approach but with far more benefits.
Holistic architecture is not a mainstream practice yet. As more people become aware of and receptive to the power of energy, holistic architecture will be seen in more places. Holistic architecture principles have gained momentum throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. Grand County is positioned as a leader in this new application of an age-old philosophy to foster harmonious living.
Follow the links below for more articles within the Green Parade section.
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• The Antique Elegance Of Timber Frame Homes: Age-old Building Tradition Makes Sense Today
• Doing It Greener The Second Time Around
• Holistic Architecture: Architecture + Energy = Harmony
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