Engawa

File:Japon-1886-18.jpg

A Meiji era bearing a resemblance to a veranda, with people for scale. Note the slope of the ground under the , and the traditional stone step.

File:Storm-door,amado,narita-city,japan.JPG

, with sliding glass doors outside, and ( with both paper and glass panes) inside. The solid wood leaning up against the corner is a storm shutter, and is usually stored away.

An or is an edging strip of non-tatami-matted flooring in Japanese architecture, usually wood or bamboo. The may run around the rooms, on the outside of the building, in which case they resemble a porch or sunroom.

Usually, the is outside the translucent paper , but inside the storm shutters (when they are not packed away). However, some run outside the . that cannot be enclosed by , or sufficiently sheltered by eaves, must be finished to withstand the Japanese climate. Modern architecture often encloses an with sheet glass. An allows the building to remain open in the rain or sun, without getting too wet or hot, and allows flexible ventilation and sightlines.

The area under an is sloped away from the building, and often paved, to carry water away. The area directly outside the paving is usually a collector drain that takes water still further away. The is thus a way to bridge the obstacles good drainage puts between the indoors and the outdoors.

Structure

The is supported on posts, identical to the other uprights of the house. A row of uprights runs long the inside of the , and the sliding screens run between these; a second row of uprights runs along the outside of the . The posts traditionally stand on half-buried stones, pounded into the earth with a specialized maul, and the wood posts shaped to fit the upper surface. More recent houses may use concrete footings.

The floor may not be finished, or it may be polished or lacquered.

Terminology

File:Myoshinji taizoin08n3.jpg

A temple in Kyoto with, from top to bottom, , , and . Note that part of the is enclosed. Drainage provision is obvious.

means an edge; a side. The terms and were historically used interchangeably, but now generally refers to the veranda directly outside the shutters. Types of include:

Positional terms

• , an inner , possibly enclosed
• , an set one step below the floor (or ) inside it
• , an protruding from under the eaves and not protected by .

If there are fewer than three , an may be described by more than one of the positional terms.

Structural terms

• , a wrap-around , often a wrap-around veranda
• , a with boards running across its width
• , a with boards running along its length
• , a veranda with a slatted floor for better drainage
• , a bamboo

• Script error: No such module "lang"., an Script error: No such module "lang". which continues all around the building
  , an which continues all around the building
• Script error: No such module "lang". showing traditional mitered corner treatment. Script error: No such module "lang". in foreground.
  showing traditional mitered corner treatment. in foreground.
• Script error: No such module "lang".. The gravel path may well double as a collector drain.
  . The gravel path may well double as a collector drain.
• Fast-draining Script error: No such module "lang". in lower right corner, near a tap
  Fast-draining in lower right corner, near a tap
• Script error: No such module "lang". in the Geppa-rō rustic tea pavilion, overlooking the water at Katsura Imperial Villa (close-up, drainage)
  in the Geppa-rō rustic tea pavilion, overlooking the water at Katsura Imperial Villa (close-up, drainage)
• Broad Script error: No such module "lang". at Kiyomizu-dera; the dry section may be seen to the right.
  Broad at Kiyomizu-dera; the dry section may be seen to the right.

Relation to other house components

The core of a traditional Shinden-style building was the innermost room or (see diagram). This was surrounded by the , which was on the same level, and was usually inside the windows and storm shutters. The was often a ring of tatami-floored rooms, but could be an unmatted ; see also . In a large building, there could be further layers of tatami-floored rooms, courtyards, and further floorplan complications.

In Shoin-style buildings, the positioning of the varied more, and the storm shutters slid rather than being hinged (usually horizontally). The modern Sukiya-style of building uses , storm shutters that not only slide but pack away in a cupboard called a by day; unlike the Shoin-style shutter, these generally run on the outside of the .

The width of an varies with the building; Template:Cvt is common, while large temples may have over of . The is supported on posts, identical to the other uprights of the house. The posts stand on half-buried stones or concrete footings.

• Script error: No such module "lang". and Script error: No such module "lang".. The Script error: No such module "lang". may itself be an Script error: No such module "lang". in small buildings, or it may be a second layer of tatami-floored rooms, with a hard-floored en running outside it.[13]
  and . The may itself be an in small buildings, or it may be a second layer of tatami-floored rooms, with a hard-floored en running outside it.
• A courtyard with Script error: No such module "lang". on the left and rear sides, a low sitting-height rail on the left side only, and Script error: No such module "lang". (bamboo roller blinds) flush to the right side; in the court, a single pink-flowering tree
  looking onto a courtyard, illustration c. 1130
• A garden courtyard with an Script error: No such module "lang". about Script error: No such module "convert". above the pale gravel, feature stones, a rain chain, and a planting of bamboo, ferns, grasses, and a creeping plant with small round leaves.
  Low running around a courtyard, 2012
• After rain; the eaves have kept the Script error: No such module "lang". mostly dry, and the Script error: No such module "lang". has kept the foundations of the house quite dry.
  After rain; the eaves have kept the mostly dry, and the has kept the foundations of the house quite dry.

Cultural role

are often proportioned so that one can sit on the edge and observe the garden. They provide a space for playing children and casual visitors.

An is part of the house, and shoes are therefore not worn on it. Guests' shoes are lined up pointing outwards.

While declined with the Westernization of Japanese architecture, they are making a comeback in modern architecture.

• Cushions on an Script error: No such module "lang". protected by sliding glass doors. Note Script error: No such module "lang"., stone step.
  Cushions on an protected by sliding glass doors. Note , stone step.
• An Script error: No such module "lang". is part of the house, and shoes are therefore not worn on it.
  An is part of the house, and shoes are therefore not worn on it.
• An Script error: No such module "lang". overlooking Erin-ji Gardens.
  An overlooking Erin-ji Gardens.
• An Script error: No such module "lang". can open the house to the surrounding landscape.
  An can open the house to the surrounding landscape.
• Socializing on an Script error: No such module "lang"..
  Socializing on an .
• Children playing on an Script error: No such module "lang".; they are drawing on the Script error: No such module "lang".. Note shoes on Script error: No such module "lang"..
  Children playing on an ; they are drawing on the . Note shoes on .
• Traditional Script error: No such module "lang". in fancier buildings often have low railings,[5] for leaning on while sitting on the Script error: No such module "lang".. Westernization of clothing made sitting on the floor difficult; modern Script error: No such module "lang". often have standing-height railings
  Traditional in fancier buildings often have low railings, for leaning on while sitting on the . Westernization of clothing made sitting on the floor difficult; modern often have standing-height railings
• Left, an Script error: No such module "lang". running between buildings, joining them.
  Left, an running between buildings, joining them.
• Modern Script error: No such module "lang". in Denmark.
  Modern in Denmark.

See also

• Loggia
• Bay window
• Oriel window