Vastu Shastra Chapter 35 – Site & Outdoors: Approach, Gate, Greens & Water

Why site planning matters

The plot is your home’s operating system. If the approach is confusing, couriers fight the gate, cars bully the lawn, rainwater sulks at the foundations, and trees wage war with walls. Get the bones right—gate, levels, drainage, planting—and everything downstream feels civilized. Vastu calls for grounding weight in the South/West and clarity in the North/East; building science asks for slopes, safe turns, and materials that survive monsoon and sun. Honor both, and the house greets you like it meant to.

Vastu overview for the site (orientation, slope, weight)

Orientation: North/East edges favor light, air, and daily entry; South/West edges hold heavier mass (garage, store, compound wall weight).
Slope: Prefer a gentle fall toward North or East within the plot. If natural terrain disagrees, manage with internal grading while ensuring drainage leaves lawfully to the street drain.
Water elements: Place water bodies, small ponds, and rain gardens toward the North/East quadrant of the site where practical; keep them clean and mosquito-proof.
Heavy elements: Septic/underground tanks, transformers, and tall trees read calmer toward South/West sectors of the plot (with engineering clearances respected).

Plot shapes, roads & corner logic

Rectangular/square plots: Simplest for planning; align the building so courtyards/light wells land in calmer quadrants.
Irregular plots: Keep the house a regular rectangle within; use landscape, walls, or planters to “square off” odd corners.
Road position: East/North roads are easy; West roads call for glare/shade; South roads need stronger entry discipline.
T-junction (road pointing at gate): Use a set-back entry, thicker green buffer and a modest screen to diffuse glare and noise. Keep front door off the direct sightline.
Corner plots: One gate primary, one service. Don’t split traffic randomly—confusion is a daily tax.

Gate, approach & address that reads

Gate placement: Bias toward North/East frontages where possible. If gate lands South/West, ground with solid materials and a clear internal path that bends gently (avoid arrow-shot lines to the door).
Gate width: 3000–3600 mm for cars (wider for SUVs or two-way). Pedestrian gate: 1000–1200 mm.
Setback pocket: A forecourt of 3.0–4.5 m depth inside the gate gives vehicles space to clear the sidewalk before stopping.
Addressing: House number visible at day and night; bell/camera reachable without acrobatics; parcel shelf out of rain.
Gate swing: Swing inwards where bylaws require; sliding gates save space but need straight track and drain planning.

Driveway & parking: sizes, slopes, turning

Parking bay: Single bay ≈ 2.5 × 5.0 m; comfortable ≈ 2.7 × 5.4 m. Two side-by-side: add 0.6–0.9 m between for doors.
Turning: Inside plots, aim for an internal turning radius of 5.5–6.0 m for easy single-sweep turns; where tight, accept a 3-point turn but protect edges with curbs.
Slopes: Drive slopes at 1:10 to 1:12 (8–10%). Provide landings every 9–10 m on long ramps; anti-skid finish; water diversion at the top.
Crossfall: 1:40–1:50 to a drain so water doesn’t sit under tires or walkways.
EV readiness: Conduit to parking for a 7.4 kW charger (single-phase) or higher; weatherproof enclosure; floor drain nearby.

Boundary walls, grills & privacy

Heights: Typical 1500–2100 mm depending on local rules. Keep street-facing portions lighter visually; heavier toward South/West sides.
Base & damp: Damp-proof course and cap with coping to shed rain. Plant away from the base to avoid constant wetting.
Visual privacy: Layer with hedges, bamboo, or trellis + creepers. Stagger solid and permeable segments to keep air moving.
Security grills: Keep spear points and sharp features off pedestrian zones; avoid ladder-like horizontal bars near kid play areas.

Levels, grading & rain drainage

Site datum: Finish floor level (FFL) of the house sits above the finished ground; maintain a gentle garden slope 1:100–1:150 away from the building.
Perimeter drain: French drain with gravel + perforated pipe along vulnerable sides; outlet to rainwater pits or lawful storm drain.
Downpipes: Collect into rainwater harvesting pits or soakaways; use leaf guards; provide inspection chambers.
Thresholds: Linear drains at garage and patio thresholds prevent blow-in during cloudbursts.

Water systems: source, storage & features

Underground sump/UGT: Park toward North/East of the plot where feasible; waterproof fully; install washable top access.
Overhead tank/OHT: Bias to South/West part of roof to keep weight grounded; maintain catwalk and guarded ladder; overflow piped visibly.
Borewell: Siting is technical (geology > folklore). Protect with a locked head; route to UGT with air gap; keep away from septic zones.
Decor water: Ponds/fountains at North/East corners of gardens read calm; keep pumps quiet, water treated, and mosquito-proof with movement and maintenance.

Septic/STP, soak pits & graywater reuse

Septic/soak pits: Keep away from wells/borewells; bias toward South/West with mandated setbacks. Vent properly; provide de-sludging access.
STP (larger plots): Enclose and ventilate; route treated water to flushing/irrigation if regulations allow.
Graywater: Laundry/shower water can irrigate lawns via sand filters/drip; never use on leafy vegetables without treatment.

Trees & planting by quadrant (and roots that behave)

North/East: Light, view, and air. Use lighter canopy trees and tall shrubs that don’t steal the sky—frangipani, plumeria, jasmine creepers; small citrus near kitchens.
South/West: Heat & wind buffers. Plant denser species and evergreen hedges that block hot winds and glare—areca, ficus (in root barriers), cassia, bauhinia.
Root discipline: Keep large trees at least their mature canopy radius away from foundations (often 3–6 m). Use root barriers where space is tight.
Mess management: Avoid heavy fruit droppers over cars/paths; place leaf-shedders where cleanup is easy.
Shading logic: Shade West/South walls with trees/trellis; keep North/East filtered and open for daylong light.

Kitchen gardens, herbs & microclimate

Sun needs: Leafy greens and herbs thrive with morning sun (East/North). Fruiting veg want longer sun—use West with shade cloth in peak summer.
Beds & paths: Raised beds 300–450 mm with compost-rich soil; paths 600–900 mm wide; drip irrigation saves water and leaves.
Water discipline: Water early mornings; mulch to cut evaporation; rain barrel off a clean roof is gold.
Compost: A sealed, ventilated composter in a downwind corner; keep 3 m from doors/windows.

Outdoor rooms: patio, pergola, deck & barbecue

Placement: Breakfast patio to East/North; evening deck to North/West with shade. Keep heavy built-in seating to S/W edges.
Sizes: Four-seater café nook ~2.4 × 2.4 m; 6–8 seat dining patio ~3.6 × 4.5 m.
Pergolas: Provide real shade (slats + creepers or polycarbonate where rain protection is needed); integrate lighting and fans with safe wiring.
Outdoor kitchen: Keep flame downwind of seating; store LPG in ventilated enclosure; drain the wash zone to a grease trap if you cook often.

Paving materials & surfaces that don’t trip

Permeable first: Grass pavers, gravel stabilizers, and porous concrete reduce runoff and heat. Where solid paving is needed, use matte stone/tiles with R11–R12 slip ratings.
Jointing & edges: Provide contrasting strips at steps/edges for visibility; avoid toe-stubbing 10–20 mm lips—bevel transitions.
Maintenance: Seal stone where appropriate; keep algae off with gentle wash; avoid high-gloss skates.

Outdoor lighting: safe, warm, neighbor-friendly

Layers: Low bollards for paths, wall sconces at entries, up/down lights on feature trees/walls. Keep color temp warm 2700–3000K.
Glare discipline: Shielded fixtures; no naked floodlights into neighbors’ windows. Step lights at 150–300 mm help elders.
Controls: Photocell + timer for paths; motion sensors at gates and service entries; separate circuits for party vs. daily.

Security, cameras & gates without paranoia

CPTED basics: Clear sightlines at gates/approach; thorny shrubs under low windows; no tall hedges hiding doorways.
Cameras/doorbells: Weatherproof, at eye level, with night vision; recorders in a ventilated, secure cabinet; avoid pointing at public space more than needed.
Locks & strikes: Strong strike plates, long screws into structure, and a secondary latch for night vent positions on windows.

Noise, dust & urban buffers

Traffic roads: Use a double-layer boundary (solid wall + green buffer). For facades, laminated glass and tight frames beat thick curtains alone.
Dust lanes: Carve a gravel “sacrificial strip” inside the gate; hose bib + drain to wash weekly; plant broadleaf hedges that you can wipe, not tiny dust traps.
Smell sources: Place exhausts downwind; keep compost/garbage away from entries and from borewell/sump areas.

Utilities: EV charging, solar, backup power

Solar PV: Best on shade-free roof toward South (or SW/SE). Keep walkways and anchors; plan inverter room with ventilation and dust control.
EV: 7.4 kW charger on a dedicated circuit with RCD; cable management so no one trips; rain cover and light.
Generators/Inverters: Place toward South/West; isolate vibration; exhaust away from windows; fuel safely stored per code.

Kids, elders & pets outdoors

Play: Soft fall zones (rubber mulch/grass), shade in afternoons, no fast paths crossing swings/slides. Keep electric points locked.
Elders: Continuous handrail on ramps; bench in shade with back/arms; path evenness beats garden drama.
Pets: Secure fence height; hose tap + drain; a patch of washable turf; shade and water always.

Awkward sites & calm remedies

Narrow, deep plot

Fix: Staggered front setback to form a mini courtyard; side light wells; carport as a filtered entry rather than a tunnel.

Steep natural slope toward house

Fix: Cut-and-fill terraces; retaining walls with weep holes; intercept drains above the house; steps/ramps following contours.

Gate forced to South-West

Fix: Add a calm vestibule inside, bend the approach, ground the path with stone, and keep front door slightly offset from the gate sightline.

Irregular plot with a “missing” corner

Fix: Square the house footprint and use landscape walls/planters to visually complete the corner; keep NE open, SW grounded.

High-tension line along frontage

Fix: Respect safety clearances; move seating/play away; plant low understorey; route metal pergolas clear of lines.

Short story: the plot that finally flowed

Dev’s corner plot had two gates, no plan. Cars played musical chairs, the lawn was a parking lot, and monsoon sent a brown river to the threshold. We retired one gate to service use, widened the primary to 3.6 m on the North road, and carved a 4 m forecourt inside so vehicles cleared the sidewalk before stopping. The driveway slipped West with a 1:50 crossfall to a linear drain; rainwater fed a NE soakaway. The South/West boundary grew a dense green windbreak; the East got a breakfast patio under a light pergola. A 7.4 kW EV point tucked near the forecourt, and the number glowed at dusk without blinding the street. The site stopped arguing and started hosting.

26-point site & outdoors audit

1) Orientation respected: NE light/air; SW grounding.
2) Plot graded: garden falls away from house; drains provided.
3) Gate placed with clear approach; width suits vehicles.
4) Forecourt allows car to clear sidewalk before stopping.
5) Drive slope 1:10–1:12; crossfall 1:40–1:50; anti-skid.
6) Parking bays sized; doors open without wall fights.
7) Boundary walls damp-proofed; privacy via layers, not walls alone.
8) Perimeter French drains where needed; threshold drains at garages/patios.
9) Downpipes to RWH pits or lawful storm drain; leaf guards in place.
10) UGT in N/E; OHT mass in S/W (with structural sign-off).
11) Septic/STP in S/W zones with clearances; vents safe.
12) Water features clean, quiet, mosquito-safe; placed to N/E garden.
13) Trees distanced from foundations; root barriers where tight.
14) West/South shaded by trees/trellis; N/E kept open/light.
15) Kitchen garden placed for sun; drip irrigation installed.
16) Outdoor rooms sized; pergolas provide real shade.
17) Paving matte/permeable; steps/edges contrasted.
18) Lighting warm, shielded, on sensible timers/sensors.
19) Security via sightlines, locks, and smart placement—not floodlights.
20) Noise/dust buffering with green + solid layers.
21) EV/solar planned; generator/inverter isolated and vented.
22) Hose bibs & drains placed for cleaning; storage for garden tools.
23) Kids/elders paths even; benches shaded; pet zone secure.
24) Address, bell, and camera readable and reachable.
25) Tricky edges mitigated (T-junctions, slopes, irregular corners).
26) The approach feels like an invitation—not an obstacle course.

FAQs

Is North/East gate mandatory? No—just forgiving. If your gate must be South/West, ground the approach, offset the front door, and invest in shade and drainage.

Where should the septic tank go per Vastu? Typically toward South/West zones of the plot with all engineering clearances; keep it away from wells/borewells and provide easy service access.

Can I put a big tree near the boundary? Yes, with distance. Keep large canopies 3–6 m off foundations; add root barriers; pick species that won’t bully walls.

Permeable or solid paving? Permeable wins for heat and runoff. Use solid, matte surfaces only where wheels turn or chairs need stability.

Where should a water feature go? In landscape terms, a quiet, clean feature to the North/East garden reads best. Maintenance and mosquito control matter more than mythology.