Short answer: a west-facing factory is good in Vastu when the gate is placed correctly. Keep the main gate just south-west of the middle of the west side, away from both ends, use the west for production sheds, and keep the north and east of the plot open.
Notes by Saurabh Sen, AlignAura, Bengaluru: IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, formerly in R&D at IBM, Philips and Mercedes-Benz, now consulting on homes, offices and factories.
What “west-facing” means for a factory
A factory is west-facing when the road and main gate are on the west side, so you look west when you stand at the gate facing the road. Confirm with a compass on site before planning.
Is a west-facing factory good in Vastu?
Yes. West is linked with Saturn and with steady, long-term work, which suits manufacturing. West-facing units often do well in production-heavy industries. The thing to watch is the south-west end of the west side, which should not carry the main gate.
Where to put the main gate
Keep the main gate just south-west of the middle of the west side, on the third or fourth part from the south-west corner. Avoid the stretch near the south-west corner; gates there go with debt, delays and partner disputes. Keep a dispatch gate off the north-west end too; the fifth part, just past the middle, is as far north as I take it.
Factory layout for a west-facing plot
| Zone of the plot | Best use in a west-facing factory |
|---|---|
| West | Production sheds and workshops along the road side, built solid. |
| North-west | Dispatch bay, finished goods store, loading dock, security cabin. |
| South-west | Heavy stores, owner or MD cabin inside the main building, overhead tank. |
| South | Heavy machine halls, raw material stores. |
| South-east | Transformer, DG set, electrical panels, boiler, furnace. |
| North | Sales office, accounts, quality lab. |
| North-east | Open and clean, underground water, small garden. |
| East | Administration, training, staff areas. |
| Centre | Open or lightly used. |
Keep more open space at the back of the plot (north and east) than at the road side, and slope drains towards the north-east.
Common mistakes on west-facing factories
- Main gate near the south-west corner of the west side.
- The owner’s cabin placed near the gate in the north-west to watch dispatch.
- A large open forecourt on the west with no space left on the north and east.
- Toilets in the north-east because the back of the plot is out of sight.
Corrections without demolition
Move the staff and visitor entry to just south-west of the middle of the west side. For a gate near either end of the west side, fit an iron or steel threshold strip, keep the gate in white or grey tones, and add a solid, heavy feature inside it. Move the owner’s seat to the south-west of the main building. Clear the north-east of toilets where possible, or use the toilet corrections we cover in our Vastu without breaking walls guide.
Factory Vastu for other facing directions
- North-facing factory Vastu
- East-facing factory Vastu
- South-facing factory Vastu
- Factory layout Vastu: the complete guide
- Industrial Vastu consultation (fees on request)
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best gate position for a west-facing factory?
Just south-west of the middle of the west side, on the third or fourth part from the south-west corner. Avoid both ends for the main gate.
Is a west-facing factory good for manufacturing?
Yes. West suits steady, production-led work. Keep the gate off both ends of the west side and the north-east open.
Where should dispatch be in a west-facing factory?
In the north-west of the plot, with trucks coming in through the gate near the middle of the west side.
Where should the owner sit in a west-facing factory?
In the south-west of the main building, facing north or east, not near the gate.
Before you plan a west-facing factory
On a west-facing plot I check whether the gate sits just south-west of the middle of the west side, whether the North-East has been given away to a store or toilet, and whether finished goods have a clear path out through the North-West. West-facing units often suit businesses built on creation and design, which is the West in my method.
To see how I pick the key zone for your own product, read the industrial Vastu consultation page. I never ask anyone to bend fire or factory rules for Vastu.