THE CONVERSATION PIT REVIVAL
We’re avid believers in keeping an open mind when embarking on the renovation process. As the walls open up, the home often tells a story - one that can be full of the unexpected and undesired, but also one of surprises in the form of opportunity! Does anyone remember the hidden fireplace in Deb’s home renovation a few years back?? So, when we stepped into a one-of-a-kind, MCM home two years ago and saw an existing 70’s conversation pit we fell head over heels in love (not into the pit). While many might level things out and modernize the floor plan, we set out to convince the clients that this feature should stay. But to our surprise the clients were just as enamoured as we were!
So, what is a conversation pit exactly? This feature emerging in the 60’s and 70’s was more than just a sunken living room, but a space that represented an era - a time of revolution, of coming together to create connection and social change. Conversation pits were designed to hold space for gathering, to encourage conversation, and foster connection and intimacy. The lowered seating draws people in, creating a nestled-in embrace that lends to lengthy, in-depth conversations long into the night.
So, if they were so lovely, where did they go? Just as one era brought them in, another era saw them replaced. While impracticality and safety could be to blame (yes, people were falling into them), the decline of the conversation pit can most likely be traced to the emergence of the modern living room being centred around media. Living room layouts began to shift their focal point onto televisions, rather than turning to each other for entertainment. But as with many trends, just as we see them go, we often see them return!
Conversation pits seem to be making a comeback and we have to wonder why? Is it just the ebb and flow of a trend re-emerging, or is there something else here? Perhaps space has been opened up for them to return with the growing trend of media rooms in homes. Whether a cozy tv den or a state of the art home theatre, these media rooms create space for the living room to return to a place of gathering. Or deeper than a shift in home layouts, the return to a focus on social engagement could be another reflection of the time. Are we growing tired of our days being centered around a screen? Are we craving connection?
In a modern world where digital communication is leaving many feeling disconnected, the return of conversation pits can remind us all of the power of shared spaces. Beyond the nostalgia for a time that has passed, the retro charm of these spaces can serve as an invitation to disconnect in order to reconnect, and to reimagine the way we interact with our living spaces and each other.