The plot of land needs examination mostly on shape, topography, roads around, compound wall, the main gate and open spaces around the main structure etc.

Shape

The best shape is square. Rectangle is also excellent provided the length is not more than 1.5 times the width. Where the plot is neither square nor rectangular, the following requirements should be ensured.  

1. Angle at D must be a right angle.  

2. Angles at A and C should not be less than a right angle.

3. Angle at B should not exceed a right angle.  

Where the aforesaid requirements are not obtainable, remedial measures are to be adopted. This is done by cutting off the interference and giving it away or keeping it off the corrected boundary through barbed wire fencing. The rejected area can be made a receptacle for dumping garden refuse etc. to make compost. This correction is a MUST before any construction activity is taken up.  

Corners

Cut or rounding off at the corners is best avoided. This is particularly baneful at the north-east.  

Topography

Ideally the downward slope should be from all sides to the north- east. Alternatively, the slope should be either to the north or to the east which implies that the plot would be facing the north or the east. Ensure that the slope is to be corrected, if a fault is noticed.

In plots facing the west or the south no relaxation of the direction of slopes is accepted. Instead, remedial measure  is to be adopted. For instance, if the plot faces south, the direction of the slope of the entire plot should be made to the east only and, instead of a surface drain running in the south direction make vertical exit points leading into an underground drain which discharges the drainage  out of the house in the south. Which means that the adverse slope underground is permitted as a compromise. In short, whatever be the direction of the face of the plot, ensure that the slopes conform to the directions as  discussed earlier in respect of open areas. The purpose is to let the plot have freedom for air and light from the north and the east and restriction from the west and the south.  

Roads around

A plot with roads on all the four sides ensures progress and prosperity. Such plots are uncommon. But then, a plot with road to the north or to the east is also excellent. The one with roads on both the north and the east is still better as it receives the maximum impact of the Eshan force.  

Plots facing the west or the south are not so good, but need not be rejected.  These are amenable very greatly to remedies. These remedies, basically, are in the form of  ensuring the above related slopes, receptivity, location of the main door and the location of the main gate.  Sometimes, we find a road ending blindly. A plot located at such an end suffers from the adverse impact of the forces generated by the traffic operating on the road. The residents of the homes on such plots make no progress and suffer from multiplicity of problems.  

Compound wall

The excavation for the compound wall should be started from the north-east and proceeded till the south-west end is reached. The erection of the wall should be done in the reverse order. The underlying idea is to ensure that weight at the north-east end is maintained always at being less than the weight at the south-west end. To serve this purpose  one more care should be taken. The western and southern walls should be kept thicker and taller than those on the northern and the eastern sides. So also the walls at the east and the north may be retained at a low level topped with barbed wire or chain link fencing. For screening, a decorative hedge may be planted in addition.                                                                

The gate

Vastu provides the keeping of the main gate in the compound wall as per the following directions.    

1.  North facing plot-  at E  

2.  East facing plot -  at F  

3. South facing plot-  at G  

4. West facing plot -  at H  

Where space is not a constraint, as in parks, farm houses, large bungalows etc., the exact location of the gate can be subjected to a little more elaboration at each of the above noted ends. But for all practical purposes, the positions, as related above and indicated in the diagram, are sufficient. Also, corner plots have roads on two sides. Here again, special consideration is provided.

The height of the doors in the gate must not exceed the height of the compound wall.

Space around the building

This study takes us into four main directions, namely, east, west, north and south as also the four corners inside the compound, around the main structure. We divide the study based on open space, outhouses, underground water storage, well, septic tank and plantation.

The open space

Adequate care must be taken to ensure that the space between the main house and the compound  periphery on the northern side is distinctly more than that on the southern side. Similarly, the space on the eastern side must be maintained as more than that on the western side. This is regardless of the direction which the property faces in relation to the abutting road.  

Outhouses

Need is often felt to have some cover somewhere around the  main house. This is mostly in respect of a garage, servant quarter,  reception or the like. Commonly, the easy victim therefore is a corner spot  in the compound. An outhouse or a shed is innocuously set up or it may be a part of well intentioned plan, knowing little of the hazards it has in store for the well being in the premises.

The corners at N-W, N-E and S-E belong to air, God and fire. Any erection therein,  which restricts free movement of air along the walls, interferes with smooth operation of the natural process allotted  to the respective corners. Not that a cover is entirely forbidden, the only precaution required is that a distance, say about  one meter, is provided between the outhouse and the compound wall or the periphery for circulation of air in  the corner . Moreover, the roof of the cover at N-E  should be low, say not more than two meters. In the other two corners the height should be less than the height of the main building. None of these three corners may be utilized for storing lumber, scrap etc. N-W is suited best for employees and vehicles. S-E is suited equally well for employees but as a second choice for vehicles.