Agni Moola: Which Corner of the House Is Best for the Kitchen?

One of the first questions families ask when we start a house plan is where the kitchen should go. Vastu Shastra gives a clear answer: the Agni Moola.

What is the Agni Moola?

Vastu assigns each direction of a house to one of the five elements. The south-east corner belongs to Agni, the element of fire, and is called the Agni Moola. Because the kitchen is where fire is used every day, tradition places it in this corner.

Vastu guidelines for the kitchen

• Best position: the south-east corner of the house.
• Second choice: the north-west corner, if the south-east is not possible.
• Stove: placed so that the person cooking faces east.
• Sink and drinking water: towards the north-east side of the kitchen, kept apart from the stove.
• Avoid: a kitchen in the north-east corner, or directly under or over a toilet.

The practical side

Whatever the direction, a good kitchen needs a window that opens to the outside for light and ventilation, a utility area close by for washing, and enough counter length between the stove, the sink and the fridge. We check these along with the Vastu position when we draw the plan.

When the south-east corner is not available

Plot shape, the road side and the position of the staircase sometimes make a south-east kitchen difficult. In that case we look at the north-west, and keep the stove and sink positions as close to the guidelines as the layout allows. Vastu is a traditional guide, and it works best when it is balanced with the plot and the way your family lives.

Planning your kitchen?

Send us your plot details and tell us your Vastu preferences. Our designers will work them into the floor plan from the first drawing.