This story was originally published in Dwell’s September 2012 issue.

For the residents of Curved House—so named for its U-shaped plan that wraps around an expansive, Japan-inspired patio—a summertime shindig typically involves splashing around the pool in the afternoon, barbecuing in the evening, and gathering around a custom firepit as the sun goes down. “Climbing down into the pit feels very intimate,” says architect Matthew Hufft, who modeled his design after the recessed conversation areas popular in 1960s and 1970s interiors.

“We didn’t want the pit to be an obtrusive contraption sitting in the center of a zen-like courtyard,” he explains. Its low profile complements the outdoor area, designed in collaboration with Weston, Missouri–based landscape architecture firm 40North. Taking cues from a slatted screen applied to the house’s facade, Hufft Projects applied a ring of ipe wood around the perimeter of the pit and designed and fabricated removable powder-coated aluminum benches upholstered in Sunbrella fabric.

Blue Steel

Edwin Blue debuted its first collection at ICFF in May, though it’s been in the works since 2008. Longtime friends Matthew Hufft and Clayton Vogel were designing so many custom pieces for their architectural projects that they decided to create a line of furniture inspired by mid-century design. “We saw a lack of timelessness in contemporary American design,” says Vogel. “There’s a lot of playfulness and whimsy—and that’s great—but we didn’t want to stand out that way.” The enduringly crisp result is a line of detail-driven, craft-oriented furniture, all made by hand in their Kansas City, Missouri, workshop. edwinblue.com

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An Outdoor Firepit in Missouri Takes Inspiration From Midcentury Sunken Lounges