| NATURAL LAW
PARTY WESSEX Dorset, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Email:
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NEWS RELEASE
Natural Architecture Expert Speaks in Dorset
Special NLP visit to
Prince of Wales' community development at Poundbury
(Dorset Evening Echo on NLP
approach to natural architecture - click here)
John Renwick and
NLP colleagues at Poundbury
Facing left to right: Gerald Napper (NLP
spokesman for Dorset), John Renwick (NLP UK spokesman for
Housing and National Planning), Mark Griffiths (Leader of
Natural Law Party for Wessex).
Date: 1st December 1998
Architecture in accord with Natural Law in Dorset
At the invitation of the local party in Dorset, Natural Law Party national spokesman on Housing and National Planning, John Renwick, made a tour of the county this weekend giving a series of talks on 'Architecture in accordance with Natural Law'. He also made a special visit to the Prince of Wales' community development at Poundbury outside Dorchester, to see for himself the progress being made with the unique development project.
Ancient Origins
At presentations and discussion groups held in Bournemouth and Dorchester, Mr Renwick, a Chartered Engineer from Lancashire, explained the profound principles of the Natural Law Party's housing and national planning programmes based on the natural principles of the ancient architectural system of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda.
"Many people are already familiar with Feng Shui, the traditional Chinese system of architecture which aims to bring happiness, good fortune and good health to the users of buildings in a natural way. The Natural Law Party's housing and planning programmes are based on the principles of Sthapatya Veda which also originates from the far east and has similar objectives - only it is a much older system of architecture and takes a different approach to Feng Shui in many areas," Mr Renwick explained to the discussion group participants.
Principles of Natural Architecture
The talks focused on the three main principles of Sthapatya Veda (meaning literally 'science of establishment') which are:
correct building orientation and position in relation to the axis of the earth and adjoining natural features, such as rivers, lakes, and site boundaries
correct proportion of building dimensions based on 'human scales' according to precise mathematical formulae
correct placement of rooms within a building according to their uses
Mr Renwick explained to his audiences that these principles apply not only to individual buildings, but also to groups of buildings and entire towns.
The most important principle of Sthapatya Veda is orientation. Although there are other permutations, the ideal orientation for a building or town is one whose main entrance faces due east to catch the enlivening effect of the rising sun at the start of the day. The path of the sun also dictates the preferred location of individual rooms. For example, the dining room should face south to absorb the full strength of the mid-day sun. According to Maharishi Ayur Veda (the system of natural health with which Maharishi Sthapatya Veda is associated) the main meal of the day should be taken at noon when the natural digestive fires of the stomach are at their strongest due to the additional influence of the sun at its zenith.
Poundbury - an opportunity for a special approach
A highlight of Mr Renwick's tour of Dorset was his visit to the Prince of Wales' new community development at Poundbury on the outskirts of Dorchester. Mr Renwick was very impressed with the sensitive use of natural materials and the fine decorative elements of many of the buildings on the site, as these two components also form important integral elements of Sthapatya Veda based architecture and planning.
Commented Mr Renwick, "Sthapatya Veda is building according to 'Natural Law' - that is to say its principles are designed to create maximum harmony for the environment, and maximum health, happiness, and good fortune for its users. It aim is to completely change the way a town or building makes you feel and think. It is not an architectural style, so it can be applied to any type of development. It is obvious from the quality of materials and design used at Poundbury that creating a harmonious and uplifting built environment is a high priority for Prince Charles."
Adds local party spokesman, Gerald Napper, who accompanied Mr Renwick on his tour,"I would very much like to approach the Prince to establish whether there might be an opportunity to enhance his marvellous work still further by incorporating the principles of Sthapatya Veda into some of the phases of Poundbury which have yet to be built. In fact I would be interested to contact any landowner or builder in Dorset who would like to explore the potential for using these principles to transform the quality of new housing and commercial development in the county as we move into the new millennium."
------ENDS------
Notes for Editors:
The Natural Law Party is established in over 70 countries around the world including all 15 EU member states.
John Renwick can be contacted on 01695 729603 for more information on Maharishi Sthapatya Veda.
More information on Maharishi Ayur Veda can be obtained from Ian Haywood on 01202 392700 at the Maharishi Ayur Ved health centre in Bournemouth.
NLP spokesman for Dorset, Gerald Napper, can be contacted on 01305 852424. Mr Napper was the NLP candidate for South Dorset at the 1997 General Election.
Dorset Evening
Echo on NLP approach to natural architecture
Natural
Law based architecture, and town and country planning
NLP 1997 Party Conference Update
on Energy and Environment Policy
Pioneering
project in sustainable development - the Prince of Wales'
new village at Poundbury Farm, Dorchester
Photos of Stahpatya Veda homes in US
