Hello, everyone! We here are Office recovery and restoration Dot.Com. website.
Having been setting up our company office at Ikebukuro, Toshima ward, Tokyo, we are an interior decorative construction work contractor, mainly taking charge of Interior decorative finishing work・Original state recovery and restoration work in all over Japan.
Concerning office interior decoration, please talk and/or take counsel with us on anything light heartedly.
Today, we are introducing and explaining『niche』.
In the first place, it seems that you may not get used to hear the word niche.
Often used implications for the business are,「Niche industry」and so on.
All in all, it is of-the-niche industry, isn’t it?
What is often seen in Japan is katakana notation of「ニッチ」.
However, originally, it is written as an English word of「niche」.
It seems that it mainly means「niche」,「ecological system」,「shelter」.
It seems that its implications and usages are different, according to the fields and scenes.
This time, we are explaining「niche」which means as a terminology of architecture.
The following is a reference from kotobank.jp website.
In Western style construction, a concave part made by hollowing out a thick wall.
A carved statue, flower vase, and so on are placed. Niche
Reference: What is niche? The meaning and usage-kotobank.jp internet website
What is niche?
Niche is a space which was made by hollowing out a wall to 凹 shape.
By utilizing this 凹shape, we can use it as the interior accent and the storage space.
Generally, by using the wall thickness of niche and let it have profoundness, we make a space for storing goods and/or decorating it.
Usually, it is made by letting the wall cave in about 5~10cm. However, the profoundness and the size can be adjusted according to the installing place and the purpose.
The structure of niche
Basically, generally, niche is a space partially hollowed out by a wall. It is generally made in a structural stable partial place.
There may be those who tend to wonder if it is OK to hollow out a wall?
Usually, when we will make niche, we surely take care of the following points and make one:
◎The structure
When installing niche, we select a place which does not influence the building strength.
For example, by avoiding to install in bearing wall and important supporting structure, we avoid structural problems.
As for the wall which is supporting a housing structure, if we concave it, chances are that the entire housing strength may be influenced.
What kind of wall is appropriate for it? If we give an example, it is:
◎Non-structural wall (partition wall)
A regular wall such as partition wall and so on are the most appropriate to make niche.
As it does not support the housing structure, it is relatively easy to be able to concave it.
◎Electrical wiring and equipment
If it is piped and/or wired in the wall, it is necessary to avoid them to make niche.
In order to confirm inside the wall, it is convenient to confirm the drawing data and to use the special detector.
The interior decorative finishing of niche

Inside of niche, it is possible to apply the materials and finishing according to the design and the usage.
As the making method of the wall is the same as usual one, it is possible to do its finishing of interior decoration widely.
However, it may come to change according to the wall groundwork materials too.
- ・Sticking tile finishing
- ・Painting finishing
- ・Sticking so-called decorative cloth finishing
- ・Sticking wooden panel finishing
Various finishings are possible as above.
In order to highlight niche, it is also possible to install a light in it.
For example, indirect light, spot light, and so on, these lights are used to match the design.
The usages of niche
Niche is often used as a decorative shelf, and it can be used for various usages.
If we go on raising concrete examples, there are following usages:
・Storage space: It can be used as a shelf for storing books, magazines, CDs, and so on.
・Decorative shelf: It can be used for a space to decorate art works, family pictures, memorabilia, and so on.
・Interior accent: In order to let the wall surface have alteration, a decorative niche is placed sometimes. Particularly, by combining with indirect light, it is possible to add accent to the entire wall design, which will show a stylish feeling.
・Equipment storage: There is a niche for storing remote controller, switch, interphone, and so on too. It will become a neat appearance impression.

equipment storage image
Referring to the above, we think we would like to introduce and explain a niche work in the toilet interior decoration this time.
The construction site example
The construction site example which we executed this time is, an office toilet interior decorative finishing in a sheet metal factory, located in Odawara city, Kanagawa prefecture.

Niche wall, sticking so-called decorative cloth

Niche finishing result

Indirect light is also applied in the niche, so there is a stylish feeling.
We executed LGS(=light gauge steel)・PB(=plaster board) construction on the groundwork, made a hollow in the niche wall area, applied so-called decorative cloth, and installed an indirect light in the niche ceiling area, which has made a stylish feeling.
As the toilet interior decoration this time is a work with niche, it has become a stylish and spacious space.
Summary
Niche designing and interior decorative finishing greatly influence the entire r room feeling.
How to finish niche is important for selecting its method, according to the room style and the purpose.
Please try to make up a stylish niche with reference to this blog by all means!
By utilizing niche, we are sure that the interior decoration will be further more charming.
Concerning your inquiry and talk on niche work, please contact us light heartedly!
We are willing to help you make the interior decoration more charming and more functional.
We will provide our work and service to you, by considering to put our customers’ satisfaction as the top priority. So, please give us your work requestr by all means!
※Please understand that we will execute construction in Japan only.
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If you are considering to request us office building・tenant(shop or store)original state recovery and restoration work, moving in work, relocation, removal, reform work, and so on, please contact our company light heartedly by all means!
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◆If you look for interior decorative work・Returning to original state and restoration work in Ikebukuro,Toshima ward, please visit Office restoration Dot.Com.◆
〒171-0014
Address: 4th floor, Musashiya No.3 Building, 62-10, 2-chome, Ikebukuro, Toshima ward, Tokyo
Free phone: 0120-978-226
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ニッチとは?|事例:神奈川県小田原市 トイレ内装工事