This architectural style is different from that of the Shinden-zukuri style, where a shinden and Tainoya (the building where family members of the residence lived) were connected with a corridor, and the Shoin-zukuri style where an entrance, a dai-shoin (a large drawing room) and a sho-shoin (a small drawing room) were connected in a row.
この形式は、渡り廊下で寝殿と対屋をつなぐ寝殿造や、玄関・大書院・小書院などを連ねる書院造とも異なっている。