The Building Characteristics branch of feng-shui studies the flow of energy within a structure, where it is carried in architectural features, exterior and interior.

Exterior Features

The feng-shui practitioner evaluates a building's overall shape using three main criteria:

Stability Generally, a building's shape is thought of as stable if none of the levels is significantly larger than the others and if the structure doesn't rest on pillars.
Balance A building is said to be balanced if it has a regular (i.e., symmetrical) shape.
Smoothness A building is said to be smooth if it has no harsh, protruding features, whether vertical or horizontal. Houses shaped like triangles and those with knifelike edges also lack smoothness.

A building's appearance is also evaluated according to the principle of "resemblance." Buildings that resemble prisons, fortifications, and weapons are undesirable, as are buildings that appear to be falling down, burning, or getting chopped up.

Examples of Stability, Balance, and Smoothness
Pueblo at El Morro, New Mexico		Kivas at Mesa Verde, Colorado

A top-heavy building		Building with triangular shape and knife-like edges		Building with a road underneath

House being cut into two halves		House with a section falling down.

Building with section propped up by pillars		House with irregular shape

House standing on pillars		House with lopsided roof

House with triangular roofs		Building appears to be on fire

House resembling a prison tower		House with triangular roof extending to the ground		House with triangular protruding sections