Space, Life and Planning

Why do some spaces quietly support clarity, focus, and well-being-while others drain energy, productivity, and peace, even when they are beautifully designed?In Space, Life & Planning, architect and workplace strategist Sharad Mathur offers a rigorous, systems-based exploration of how space, orientation, and environmental forces shape human experience. Drawing from over 25 years of professional practice across North America-and grounded in both modern science and ancient Vedic planning principles-this book reframes Vaastu not as superstition or belief, but as an early form of environmental intelligence.Blending architecture, sustainability, human behavior, and decision-making, Mathur demonstrates how orientation, proportion, natural forces, and spatial hierarchy influence not only buildings-but the people who inhabit them. From homes and workplaces to cities and institutions, Space, Life & Planning provides a framework for understanding why certain environments support balance, productivity, and longevity, while others quietly work against us.This is not a rulebook.This is not a spiritual manifesto.It is a way of thinking differently about space.Written for architects, designers, business leaders, and thoughtful homeowners, this book equips readers with a practical lens to evaluate environments, ask better questions, and make more intentional design decisions in an increasingly complex world.Designing space is never neutral. It always shapes outcomes.