The Art of Design Issue 60 2023 | Page 56

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ENERGY WELLNESS IN INTERIOR DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

Listening to the ‘ energy ’ of a home or the spirits of the land might sound strange , but it is par for the course with the work of Sarah A McAllister , the UK ’ s leading feng shui expert and metaphysical advisor to visionary leaders and changemakers .
For Sarah , interior design is more than the visual impact and practical purpose . Rather it is a type of energy choreography in which she guides the power of natural forces to increase the health and happiness of those who dwell or work in the final built environment . Sarah is a curator of exquisite atmospheres – where people can deeply relax , feel grounded and ‘ at home ’, and some of her clients even report feeling empowered and full of strength when inhabiting the spaces she designed for them . spaces using upcycled materials , recycled rubber flooring , hemp-covered sofas , air ionisers & water filtration , and low-energy lighting solutions well before ‘ wellness or sustainable architecture ’ were trendy .
Having served on leading international design committees and spoken , taught & consulted on five continents , Sarah is encouraged to see her niche becoming better understood & valued as architects are finally calling for spaces to be designed with the physical , emotional and spiritual well-being of occupants in mind - something that Sarah has pioneered for two decades .
An architectural or interior design collaboration is ideally formed at the outset of a project before too many significant decisions have been made , and , if possible , before planning application is granted , so that the feng shui can help master plan the project .
The first step on a new build project or an existing home or office renovation is to ‘ sense the chi ’ – whether this is an empty plot of land , an existing site to be demolished or a tired space in need of a refresh . Then specific compass readings are taken with the Chinese LoPan compass , which gives accurate information on the best orientation for the new building or how to make the most of the existing site .
Within the 8 general directions are a further 8 types , making 64 in total and even one degree can be the difference between a Cool or a Pure pulse … much like an acupuncturist reads the body pulses at the wrist , the feng shui consultant reads the pulse of the building or the natural environment . The goal is to tap into the healthful and life-giving energy and to avoid declining , empty or sick energy .
From wellness homes and private woodland Kung Fu Kwoons to urban spas , wellness centres and large acreage villages and retreats , Sarah has infused the ancient wisdom of classical healing feng shui into all her collaborations with design professionals as well as running complete renovations of London properties through her company Feng Shui Agency . Since 2003 , Sarah has created unique and eco-friendly wellness