Vastu for High-Rise Apartments and Upper Floors

Yes, Vastu applies to high-rise apartments. Classical Vastu was written for houses built on the ground, but its principles — directions, elements, light, air and the balance of the वास्तु पुरुष मंडल (Vastu Purusha Mandala, the energy grid of a building) — adapt naturally to each flat within a tower.

In a high-rise, the flat you live in is your primary Vastu unit. The building, its entrance and its surroundings form the wider context. Both matter, but your own layout is where most of your day is spent and where most practical adjustments can be made.

Living on a higher floor is neither good nor bad by itself in Vastu. What matters more is the flat's layout, entrance, light and how balanced its zones are.

Upper floors often bring real advantages: more daylight, better cross-ventilation, open views and less street noise. The considerations are different rather than negative — stronger winds, intense afternoon sun on West-facing glass and a feeling of distance from the ground for some people. Each of these has simple, non-structural remedies, which are covered below.

Check the building's entrance, the position of lifts and staircases, and what surrounds the tower. These shape the energy that reaches every flat.

Inside the flat, the main door, kitchen, master bedroom, toilets and the centre matter most. These follow the same guidance as any home.

Stay grounded on an upper floor by strengthening the Earth element, especially in the South-West. Some people living very high up describe a slightly unsettled, 'floating' feeling, and Vastu offers gentle ways to anchor the home.

Manage wind, sun and glare with sensible window treatments and balcony arrangements, because comfort is part of good Vastu. The Air element is naturally stronger at height, and full-height glass can make rooms hot and bright.

Some families like to consider the floor and flat number through numerology, but it should never be the deciding factor. A simple method is to add the digits of the flat number; for flat 2403, 2 + 4 + 0 + 3 = 9.

Numerology looks at the energetic essence of a space, while Vastu looks at its physical layout. Together they offer a fuller picture, but location, structure, light, ventilation and your family's practical needs should always carry more weight. Where a number doesn't feel right, small adjustments such as the nameplate can be considered.

If the layout isn't ideal, use non-structural remedies rather than breaking walls — which in a high-rise society is rarely allowed anyway. Colour, metal strips, pyramids, crystals, mirrors, lighting, sound and salt therapy can balance zones without construction.

Start with the simplest steps: declutter, keep the North-East and centre light, ensure every bulb works, and arrange furniture so you sleep with your head towards the South or East and study or work facing East or North.

Consider consulting a Vastu expert before booking a flat in a tower, especially when comparing units on different floors or facing different directions, and when moving into a new high-rise home.

Dr. Kimaya Parikh-Ambekar offers site and flat selection guidance and room-by-room consultations for multi-storeyed buildings, with compass measurement on-site and non-structural remedies. Consultations are available across Mumbai — Andheri, Powai, Goregaon, Worli, Lower Parel, Thane and beyond — from the Andheri East office, or as a distant consultation using floor plans.