not to be outdone, other nations have shared their philosophy on a life well lived

SCOTLAND

IN 2017 tourism body VisitScotland identified Còsagach, a Scottish Gaelic word, as a rival lifestyle trend to hygge and a key driver for tourism in 2018.

According to VisitScotland, còsagach means “snug, sheltered or cosy”. Gaelic speakers begged to differ. Fast forward to 2018 and the new Scottish buzz word is Coorie.

Coorie is a Scottish concept meaning “snuggle” or “cuddle”.

Coorie is about embracing all things Scottish in order to find a sense of deep happiness.

JAPAN

South Africans have arguably embraced the wabi-sabi design philosophy more than any other. Similar to hygge it’s a world view based on acceptance and tolerance.

For design it’s beauty with imperfection. The artisanal, the handcrafted and one-of-a-kind or custommade prevails.

Derived from Buddhist teachings about impermanence, suffering and the absence or emptiness of selfnature, it favours a design aesthetic that’s in love with asymmetry, roughness, austerity and simplicity.

The mandalas you’ve surely seen in adult colouring books in recent years are linked to the more complex Indian system of architecture, known as Vastu Shastra.

It’s a science that includes principles of design, layout, measurements, ground preparation, space arrangement and spatial geometry.

Perhaps better understood as

Feng Shui, the Chinese system based on knowledge of the flow of chi; Vastu Shastra based on the flow of prana, is a similar, somewhat broader system.

Essentially, both systems are based on the flow of energy in our spatial environment.

It consists of a specific set of rules, regulations and directions to harmonise a home with the underlying energy structures of the universe.

Your abode should then attune you to the universe, increasing health, wealth and spiritual wellbeing.

Vastu Shastra is the ancient Indian science of architecture and acts as a guideline to designing.

Wabi-sabi

Coorie