A 1950s design trend is making its comeback in Australian homes
The revival of retro glamour is taking over our households once again. In these disconnected times, homeowners are looking to spaces that encourage close connection and conversation.
The conversation pit – a recessed lounge below floor level – has gone through many highs and lows over the years.
Its first modern iteration can be traced back to the 1920s, but the architectural innovation really rose to prominence in the 1950s with the famous Miller House in Columbus, Indiana, by prominent mid-century architect Eero Saarinen.
With a cherry-red carpeted floor and masses of patterned cushions, its appeal lay in both the cosy orientation and unencumbered sightlines to the outdoors.
Over time, the sunken lounge became associated with a spirit of retro glamour. Think James Bond, Oceans 10 and 11, and Don Draper’s penthouse in Mad Men.
Peaking in the 1970s, the lowered format eventually waned in favour of more disparate living spaces.
However, the tides have shifted and its resurgence can be attributed to today’s post-pandemic world.
After years of social deprivation and our increasing lack of human interaction, spending time together in real life (and in a contained space) has never been more precious.
Encased by a curve or by joinery on at least three sides, the inward-facing setup encourages socialising and conversation.
For the sunken lounge he designed for clients in North Fitzroy, architect Nick Harding of Ha Architecture upholstered the cushions in a cosy blue velvet on the base of warm Victorian ash hardwood.
The March issue of Mansion magazine will be out in The Australian on Friday, March 28
“It’s designed to be enjoyed for extended periods of time,” he says. “Everyone faces inwards, and with relaxed upholstery it’s especially comfortable.
“People naturally gravitate towards it. It’s an invitation to get close to the ground and loosen up – a designated space for an undesignated activity.”
With its integration into the ground, the sunken lounge’s appeal lies in its fixed location, which delineates it from the rest of the surrounding space.
Cassie James-Herrick of CJH Studio suggests that the newfound popularity of such spaces may also reflect a shift away from large, open-plan homes.
“It offers a little separation or refuge from the surrounding areas of the house,” she says. “And the joy of entertaining at home has become highly sought after – the client can see a great return on investment into a space that encourages greater connection.”
In a collaborative project in Rose Bay with Luigi Rosselli Architects, Atelier Alwill created an intimate zone by digging out a square pit from the tongue and groove European oak floor.
“It’s become a central hub of the living room,” says Romaine Alwill, director of Atelier Alwill. “It’s a place for hanging out and enjoying company and relaxation.
“It’s a playful element in any interior and most clients are up for it.”
Alwill says that the sunken lounge never went out of style, but rather that it has been revived with a more contemporary look and feel.
As evidenced by their robust concrete, rammed earth and masonry project, the materials palette is a combination of sophisticated oak, rattan, a soft textured high-pile rug and “tan leather that wears like a great old jacket”.
While designers are modernising the look, James-Herrick says it invariably evokes a nostalgic sensibility.
“There is always a little lean into the retro as a subtle nod to its origins that we know and love, yet a contemporary update of soft furnishings and joinery designs can elevate it in a more modern way.”
It’s a concept James-Herrick incorporated into her Caulfield North project, which features sleek marbles, neutrals and a carpeted pit.
Introducing a conversation pit into an existing house can be challenging – especially in period homes – but Harding says that integrating one into a newly built space is relatively straightforward.
The biggest considerations? “The surrounding circulation, the depth of the lounge and number of steps down.” Once you’ve mastered that, you’re good to go.
This story is from the March issue of Mansion magazine, out on Friday, March 28.
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