Michael Goh | Astrology · Feng Shui · Qi Men Dun Jia

The north facing stacks of Block 248A likewise benefit from a comparatively open frontage overlooking the surrounding low rise private residential houses. Compared with the park facing stacks, however, the presence of AMO Residences represents a minor compromise to what would otherwise be a more favorable frontage.

Image source: Google Maps satellite imagery. © Google.

Overall, Kebun Baru Breeze presents relatively few significant Form Feng Shui concerns based on the overall site configuration. As mentioned throughout this series, lower floor units generally require more careful assessment, particularly those facing the Multi Storey Car Park, where additional Form considerations may arise.

Turning to the Qi characteristics of the development, the stack orientations fall broadly into the following three categories. The following observations are based on broad Qi considerations and assume that the facing direction is supported by a pleasant and open external environment.

1. NE1-SW1 (丑未 Mountain): Stacks 239,237,233,235
2. S3-N3 (丁癸 Mountain): Stacks 243,241,221,223,229,225,227,213,211,209,207,205,203,201,215,217
3. W3-E3 (辛乙 Mountain): Stacks 231,219

Based on broad Qi considerations, the NE1 - SW1 orientation generally favors southwest facing stacks under the current Feng Shui Period.

For the S3 - N3 orientation, both the north and south facing stacks are generally regarded as favorable under the current Feng Shui Period.

Lastly, for the W3 - E3 orientation, the east facing stacks are likewise generally regarded as comparatively favorable from a Qi perspective.

As mentioned earlier, we now turn to another aspect of stack assessment that often receives less attention during the initial BTO launch. Although some of these considerations may already be apparent from the preliminary site plans, they frequently become much clearer once the detailed block layouts and corridor arrangements are released during the flat selection stage. These finer details may sometimes influence the overall assessment when comparing otherwise similar stacks.

Layout 1 Illustration

The illustration above presents a representative design commonly found in many BTO developments. All three units are four room flats of similar size.

The first feature that many readers are likely to notice, and perhaps assume to be the primary concern, is what appears to be a 门对门 arrangement, where two main doors face one another across the common corridor. Although 门对门 has become a fairly common layout in many modern BTO developments and is likewise one of the more widely recognized Feng Shui considerations, its practical significance is often overstated. It is not, however, the aspect I wish to highlight here.

A closer observation reveals that the main doors of Units A and B are, in fact, not directly aligned with one another, but are instead slightly offset from one another. Although this may appear to be a relatively minor design feature, the resulting Form influence can, in certain situations, prove more significant than what many simply regard as a 门对门 arrangement.

As with all Form assessments, the principle of Relative Significance (轻重缓急) should always be applied. Not every consideration carries equal weight, and the ability to distinguish between primary and secondary influences is often more important than merely identifying the presence of a particular Form.

The offset design also means that Unit C is not entirely unaffected, as the same configuration may likewise introduce additional Form considerations for Unit C.

Layout 2 Illustration

Let us now consider another design layout.

At first glance, many applicants may simply observe that the main doors of Units A and B neither face each other directly nor exhibit the offset arrangement discussed previously, and therefore conclude that there is little to be concerned about. A closer examination, however, reveals that Unit A is directly confronted by a projecting side wall opposite its main entrance, giving rise to another type of Form affliction that deserves attention.

Throughout this series, we have repeatedly emphasized the importance of frontage. This principle extends not only to the overall facing direction of a residence but also to the immediate environment encountered upon stepping through the main entrance. What one encounters immediately outside the main door likewise forms an important part of the overall assessment and should not be overlooked.

More importantly, these examples serve as another reminder that the assessment of a stack is always multifaceted and should never be reduced to a single consideration. Every stack possesses its own strengths and weaknesses. Some may benefit from favorable Qi while presenting certain Form considerations. Others may enjoy excellent surroundings while being comparatively less advantageous from a Qi perspective. The considerations discussed throughout this series are by no means exhaustive. Other factors, such as the internal layout of the unit, the reception and distribution of Qi within the dwelling, the suitability of the property to its occupants' personal charts, and various other considerations, likewise contribute to the overall assessment.

Ultimately, selecting a suitable stack is a process of weighing multiple considerations rather than focusing on any single factor. One may think of it as assigning appropriate weight to each consideration before arriving at an overall judgement. The objective is not to seek perfection, but rather to identify the option that offers the most favorable overall balance.

Although the examples presented throughout this series have focused on the June 2026 BTO projects, the underlying assessment principles are equally applicable to many other residential developments. Ultimately, it is the principles behind the examples, rather than the examples themselves, that I hope readers will take away from this series.

As this series comes to a close, I hope readers have gained not only a better appreciation of the individual BTO projects, but also a practical framework for conducting their own preliminary assessments. While seeking professional advice certainly has its place, I have always believed that some fundamental Feng Shui knowledge is best possessed by homeowners themselves. Just as a sound general education equips us to make better informed decisions in everyday life, a basic understanding of these principles likewise enables us to approach one of the most important decisions many people will make with greater confidence and discernment.

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

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.

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, Stacks 473 and 451 situated above the seven storey Multi Storey Car Park may wish to take note of the visual gap created by the spacing between Stacks 403 and 425, which may potentially give rise to a Form Affliction. However, given the relative distance involved, the visual impact is likely to be less pronounced, although its actual significance would ultimately depend on the frontage view from the selected unit.

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 (Admiralty Lane). However, the key consideration is whether this curvature becomes visually apparent from the frontage view of the selected stack itself. Given that the roads remain at the planning stage and the stacks are not directly oriented towards the curvature, the perceived reverse Form may ultimately be less apparent in actual observation.

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).