nischen

Nischen is the plural of the German noun Nische. In German, as well as in related disciplines, it denotes a space or position that is specialized or set apart: a recessed architectural space, a specialized market segment, or the ecological role of a species.

Architectural sense: In architecture, a niche is a shallow recess in a wall, often arched or decorated, intended to display sculpture, urns, or other objects. Niches appear in churches, gardens, and public buildings and can influence interior lighting and spatial rhythm.

Ecological sense: In ecology, a niche describes how an organism or species fits into its environment—the resources it uses, the time it forages, the conditions it tolerates, and its interactions with other species. The concept distinguishes the fundamental niche (the full range of potential conditions) from the realized niche (the actual conditions under biotic constraints). Niche partitioning reduces competition by species occupying different niches.

Economic sense: In business and marketing, a niche (or market niche) is a narrowly defined segment with particular needs that is not yet saturated by mainstream providers. Firms may specialize to offer tailored products or services, for example, niche foods, hobbyist equipment, or professional services targeted at a specific industry.

Other uses: The term also occurs in cultural and design contexts to describe a specialized field or role, a figurative space for ideas, or a thematic focus in exhibitions and literature.