September 30, 2014 at 1:47 pm

18 Conversation Pits Worth Talking About

by twistedsifter

 

A conversation pit is an architectural features that incorporates built-in seating into a depressed section of flooring within a larger room. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘sunken living room’ and was a popular design style from the 1950s to 1970s across Europe and North America. [source]

Modernist architects Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard used a conversation pit as the centerpiece of the influential Miller House (1958) in Columbus, Indiana, one of the earliest widely publicized applications of the concept. A brilliant red conversation pit (since covered, but recently restored) was later incorporated by Saarinen into the 1962 TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport in New York. [source]

The architectural feature seems to be enjoying a bit of a renaissance, most notably in luxury homes and villas around the world. I spent last night sifting through Pinterest, Tumblr and numerous interior design and architecture blogs to put together the compilation below. Enjoy!

 

1.

conversation pits worth talking about (8)

 

2.

conversation pits worth talking about (5)

 

3.

conversation pits worth talking about (9)

Photograph by Novoceram

 

4.

conversation pits worth talking about (7)

Photograph by W Retreat Koh Samui

 

5.

conversation pits worth talking about (15)

Photographer Unknown via Home Designing

 

6.

conversation pits worth talking about (17)

Photograph by GFAB Architects

 

7.

conversation pits worth talking about (12)

Photograph by Shannon McGrath via IDEA Awards

 

8.

conversation pits worth talking about (11)

Photograph by Jewel of Maui Residence, Hawaii via Home Dsgn

 

9.

conversation pits worth talking about (3)

Photographer Unknown via Home-Designing

 

10.

conversation pits worth talking about (2)

 

11.

conversation pits worth talking about (4)

Photograph by Chris Barrett Design

 

12.

conversation pits worth talking about (1)

 

13.

conversation pits worth talking about (6)

Photograph by Amber Flooring

 

14.

conversation pits worth talking about (13)

Photograph by GFAB Architects

 

15.

conversation pits worth talking about (14)

 

16.

conversation pits worth talking about (16)

Photograph by YO! Home

 

17.

conversation pits worth talking about (19)

Photograph by Villa Nilpi

 

18.

conversation pits worth talking about (10)

Photograph by Mushroom House

 

*Bonus*
because it’s awesome

conversation pits worth talking about (18)

Photograph via Tiny House Blog

 

 

 

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