In honor of the Year of the Monkey, Mansion Global has named this spectacular Mediterranean-style house near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef “the world’s best feng shui mansion.” To celebrate the lunar new year, Mansion Global invited two guest feng shui masters to select four homes—from the roughly 100 luxury properties featured as Listing of the Day—that best exemplify the feng shui properties of balance and harmony. This lavish house on the Queensland coast came out on top, followed by a Beverly Hills mansion, a centuries-old estate in the U.K. and a stunningly symmetrical Long Island, N.Y. home. Feng shui (which translates to “wind and water”) is an ancient Chinese belief that the way your house is built or the way you arrange objects within it affects your health, happiness and success. The goal is to enhance the flow of qi (energy), the origin of all things. “Everything in nature is made up of five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air and space,” said Master Nayi Chen, an expert who has been studying the I Ching, one of the most important sources of feng shui wisdom, for over 30 years. “In real estate and urban planning, feng shui is employed to create harmony between humans and nature,” she added. Master Zhi Hai is an architect-turned-feng-shui-master who assists with the launch of high-end residential buildings in Manhattan. According to Zhi Hai, the incorporation of feng shui principles is becoming an important marketing tool for luxury developments across America. The judges based their selections primarily on photos and listing information, including the home’s location, orientation, landscaping and interior design, weighing each equally. They also stressed that homeowner’s birthday is an important consideration, emphasizing that feng shui should be tailored to the homeowner’s sign in the Chinese zodiac. Here’s a look at the winners.
1. An Estate Near the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Price: $13.4 million
Location: Queensland, Australia
Master Zhi Hai: The property has abundant vital qi, best reflected in the lush vegetation. Facing the sea with hills rising behind it, the house enables qi to flow smoothly.
Master Chen: Surrounded by mountains and water, the mansion enjoys nature’s blessings. The terrain is shaped like a bending dragon, which sends auspicious qi throughout the premises. The shape of the dock keeps the ocean close to the family. In feng shui, mountains are associated with offspring while water indicates money. So this property should bring prosperity and family happiness to the owner. View full listing
2. A $135 Million Mansion in Beverly Hills, California
Price: $135 million
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Master Chen: The road and the swimming pool form a semicircle—known as a Jade Belt in feng shui—which telegraphs elite status. The gradual slope of the hills, combined with the house’s relatively flat rooftop, help gather auspicious qi. In addition, the purple, gold, black and white colors used in the interior furnishings indicate royalty, conferring great power on the homeowner.
Master Zhi Hai: This property has very distinguished feng shui diagrams, represented by four “spirit animals”. The Azure Dragon formed by the hill on the left of the house indicates a promising career development for the homeowner. The White Tiger crouching on the right blesses the lady of the house with a gentle nature. The Vermilion Bird formed by the swimming pool in the front portends great wealth. The property also features a sign of the Black Tortoise (backed by the hill), indicating support from within the family and from society. This house will help the owner accumulate wealth and support while avoiding bad luck whenever possible. View full listing
3. The Centuries-Old Abbotswood Estate in the UK
Price: Available Upon Request
Location: Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Master Zhi Hai: This is another good example of ideal positioning. The lush woods on the slightly upward hill to the left of the house provide positive energy for the owner’s career. The main structure is almost symmetrical, which helps the owner achieve a balanced life.
Master Chen: Although there is no water in front of the property, the winding road serves the same purpose—that is, bringing wealth to the owner. The house incorporates a lot of wooden beams and furniture. In feng shui, wood dictates kindness, morality, longevity and nobility. View full listing
4. An Over-the-Top Estate on Long Island’s Gold Coast
Price: $100 million
Location: Great Neck, N.Y.
Master Zhi Hai: This house is austere, symmetrical and steady. There are pools and fountains in front of the house. Water brings money.
Master Chen: The scattering water from the pool and fountains help the owner accumulate wealth from varied sources. With various outdoor amenities that span the grounds, the property mimics the sprawl of nature, which feng shui interprets as a sign of strong networking. This will bring the homeowner a favorable relationship with the public. View full listing