Niche (architecture)

A wall niche and niche refers to a recess in a wall, and is also called as wall return. If the niche width is very small, it is called a wall slot. Wall niches are either already made ​​during the construction phase or broken out later from the wall. In the latter case must be checked by a structural engineer if the niche is not too strongly affects the strength of the wall. Structural masonry walls must have a certain minimum thickness.

Wall niches serve either as a design feature to make a wall surface visually interesting than space for furniture or radiators. To install disturbing lines ( pipes, cables, conduits ) to avoid building services in homes, already in the planning or in the renovation of old buildings wall niches to be scheduled. Later, these niches are sealed and can no longer be distinguished from the rest of the wall surface. Is a niche overlaps defined by an arc, it is called a niche bow.