Aside from a therapist’s office, the majority of our meaningful human-to-human communication occurs in stalled cars via speakerphone, in our earbuds walking through public places, or in bouts of starts and stops at the table between our server checking in to see if “we’re still working on that.” It’s better than nothing, but there’s something inherently lacking in these wedged-in, multitasked catch-ups that can make practically every relationship feel like a long-distance one. Not to mention that in today’s fast and loose landscape of open floor plans and co-work spaces, a private space to connect is hard to come by. There’s got to be a way to genuinely share feelings and ideas with others that doesn’t involve Bluetooth or getting a bill after!
The first conversation pit is generally credited to Alexander Girard, who included one in the Miller House in 1957. The home is now a National Historic Landmark and can be visited by guided tour in Columbus, Indiana.
Photography: Carol M. Highsmith
Enter the conversation pit, an interior design feature of the 1960s and ’70s mid-century modern era that fell out of fashion in the ’80s when television made the move to 24/7 broadcasting. If you’ve never heard of them, do yourself a favor and search for “conversation pit” on Instagram, pronto. In addition to being endlessly customizable and aesthetically pleasing, with pit layouts ranging from palatial extravagance to casual cushions, conversation pits quite literally invite us to step down into a simpler time.
On a subconscious level, there’s something so alluringly right about nestling yourself in a special enclosed space. It invokes the peaceful security of caves, wombs, and the innocence of kindergarten circle-time. Conversation pits bring these influences to the table with a unique architectural style that fosters both intimacy and opening up. Typically the area is recessed, or sunken at a level below the rest of the home’s flooring — hence “pit” — with softer seating presented to encourage eye contact and participation.
The primary element of a conversation pit is not something it has, but rather something it doesn’t. The pit is a contained environment free of screens. If you’re considering incorporating one of these into your residence, you’ll thank yourself for honoring this original key. The work-from-home trend has blurred the lines when it comes to designated locations for our business brain and places where we can take a load off. Having a section of the house intentionally barricaded from digital distractions is a great gift to yourself and your lucky company.
Designers Kristin Korven and Jeff Kaplon created a modernized version of the conversation pit inspired by the Miller House with their white iteration in Los Angeles, including a sunken seating area bathed in natural light with a full view of the backyard garden.
Photography: Naho Kubota
Realistically, most of us aren’t able to get a demolition team on the horn and order a structural renovation of our living rooms, but there are still ways to deliver the spirit of the conversation pit into your dwelling.
Rearrange furniture in the living room to face away from screens and towards other seating elements. Take inspiration from the private setup of dining booths offered in restaurants.
If your sitting room is situated around an immovable, wall-mounted screen, find a neutral sheet or blanket to throw over the device. You’ll be surprised how simply removing the giant screen from view changes the feel of a space.
Go ground level with pillows and yoga blocks to create a special connection section on a comfortable corner of the floor.
Whether you dive into a spirited debate or cozy up solo with a book and beverage, we know you’ll love these happy little nests designed to abscond from the noise of the big, wide world and reconnect to something that feeds your inner flame. Try it out yourself, and you’ll see why social media has been ablaze with the rallying cry to “bring back the conversation pit!”
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