recesses

Recesses are indentations or hollowed-out spaces. The term has several related uses. In architecture, a recess is an indentation within a wall that creates a niche, alcove, or bay. Recesses may house statues, altars, display cases, or built-in furniture; they can affect lighting, acoustics, and the perceived scale of a room. Typical forms include wall niches, recessed seating, and alcoved bays. The proportions of a recess—its width, height, and depth—are governed by architectural grammar and can influence spatial rhythm.

The term also denotes periods of interruption or adjournment. In legislative or parliamentary contexts, recesses are temporary suspensions of a session; in schools, recess refers to a scheduled break for students. Recesses in daily schedules vary by institution and jurisdiction, but usually provide a period for rest, travel, or informal activity.

In historical and cultural contexts, recesses appear in monuments and interiors as decorative features, especially in religious buildings where niches are used to enshrine statues or relics. The plural form, recesses, covers both architectural indentations and multiple breaks in time.