Light from the engawa (veranda) is shielded by a plastered clay wall in which windows are set to enable artistic control of the light, such as shitaji mado, or a window in which the inner structure of the plaster wall is shown; renji mado, or a window with a lattice; tsukiage mado, or a skylight window in the ceiling that can be opened by a stick.
縁側からの採光を土壁でさえぎり、そこに必要に応じて「窓（下地窓、連子窓、突き上げ窓など）」をあけることにより光による自在な演出が可能となった。