Shinden-zukuri

Shinden-zukuri (寝殿造) refers to the style of domestic architecture developed for palatial or aristocratic mansions built in Heian-kyō (平安京, today's Kyoto) in the Heian period (794–1185), especially in 10th century Japan.
"Shinden-zukuri" developed into "shoin-zukuri" and "sukiya-zukuri" (detached teahouse type architecture). During the Kamakura period, it developed into "buke-zukuri" (武家造 housing for a military family).
Structure.
The main characteristics of the "shinden-zukuri" are a special symmetry of the group of buildings and undeveloped space between them. 
A mansion was usually set on a one square. The main building, the , is on the central north–south axis and faces south on an open courtyard. Two subsidiary buildings, the , are built to the right and left of the "shinden", both running east–west. The "tai-no-ya" and the "shinden" are connected by two corridors called respectively "sukiwatadono" (透渡殿) and "watadono" (渡殿). A "chūmon-rō" (中門廊, central gate corridor) at the half-way points of the two corridors lead to a south courtyard, where many ceremonies were celebrated. From the "watadono", narrow corridors extend south and end in "tsuridono", small pavilions that travel in a U-shape around the courtyard. Wealthier aristocrats built more buildings behind the "shinden" and "tai-no-ya".
The room at the core of the "shinden" ("moya") is surrounded by a (one ken wide) roofed aisle called "hisashi". The "moya" is one big space partitioned by portable screens (see List of partitions of traditional Japanese architecture). Guests and residents of the house are seated on mats, laid out separately on a polished wooden floor. As the style developed, the moya became a formal, public space, and the hisashi was divided into private spaces. Since the "shinden-zukuri"-style house flourished during the Heian period, houses tended to be furnished and adorned with characteristic art of the era.
In front of the "moya" across the courtyard is a garden with a pond. Water runs from a stream ("yarimizu" 遣水) into a large pond to the south of the courtyard. The pond had islets and bridges combined with mountain shapes, trees, and rocks aimed at creating the feeling of being in the land of the Amida Buddha.
Officers and guards lived by the east gates.
Other influenced styles.
"Buke-zukuri".
The "buke-zukuri" was the style of houses built for military families. It was similar in structure to the regular "shinden-zukuri" with a few room changes to accommodate the differences between the aristocratic family and the military family. During the time when military families rose in power over the aristocrats, living quarters changed. Each lord had to build extra space in order to keep his soldiers around him at all times with their weapons within reach on the grounds in case of a sudden attack. To help guard against these attacks, a "yagura" or tower was built and torches were scattered around the gardens so they could be lit as quickly as possible.
With the increase of people living under the same roof, extra rooms called "hiro-bisashi" ("spacious room under the eaves") were built grouped around the "shinden". The "zensho" (膳所 kitchen) was also built bigger in order to accommodate the required people needed to cook all the food for the soldiers and members of the household.
Unlike the "shinden-zukuri", "buke-zukuri" homes were simple and practical, keeping away from the submersion into art and beauty that led to the downfall of the Heian court. Rooms characteristic of a "buke-zukuri" home are as follows:
The "buke-zukuri" style changed throughout the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, and over times the rooms in a "buke-zukuri" style house decreased as "daimyōs" started to use castles.
Extant examples.
There are no remaining original examples of "Shinden-zukuri"-style homes, however some current structures follow the same styles and designs: