They say that everything that goes out of style comes back again, and the conversation pit is a prime example. Although it was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, the origins of the recessed seating design can be traced back to several different cultures, from ancient China to medieval Spain. These sunken living spaces were designed so that large groups could comfortably lounge together with cozy rugs and cushions.

The first conversation pit is largely credited to architect Bruce Goff, who designed a 1927 home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a sunken seating area. Fast forward to the 1950s and 1960s, when leading modernist designers and architects including Eero Saarinen, Paul Rudolph, and Alexander Girard began developing conversation pits and sunken rooms for both residential and commercial spaces. In the ensuing decades, the conversation pit became a popular living room typology.

The 1952 Miller House, designed by Saarinen and Girard, is often seen as the catalyst for the pit’s popularity. Located in Columbus, Indiana, the home was built with a short staircase leading down to a sunken living room outlined with a single, continuous sofa. The home was very influential, and soon, sunken living rooms could be found across the nation. By the 1970s, the conversation pit hit the pinnacle of its popularity. The reasons for the subsequent decline of the design trend are varied—in some cases it wasn’t practical for families with children, and in others it simply felt outdated.

The Terrace Theatre, designed by Twin Cities–based firm Liebenberg and Kaplan, incorporated a sunken lounge into its design." layout="" credit="Courtesy of Cinema Treasures" photoUserId=""/>

However, over the past few years, architects have begun to experiment again with creating these recessed spaces, often incorporating modern materials, fresh color palettes, and outdoor settings to make the typology feel updated. Here, we’ve gathered some of our favorite contemporary celebrations of the conversation pit and sunken living room.

An Eggplant-Purple Conversation Pit in Cupertino, CA

An Indoor/Outdoor “Garden Room” in Perth, Australia

A 1950s Oregon Home With Midcentury Details

A Former London Garage With a Sunken Living Room

A Canadian Home Influenced by Midcentury Tradition

Designed by Montreal-based firm Chevalier Morales, Residence de I’Isle features a sunken living room with a multifunctional piece of built-in furniture that integrates a sofa, sound system, and television, and also contains a "secret door" that leads to a wine cellar. "[We incorporated this] as a clin d’oeil to the midcentury tradition of built-in workstations," says architect Sergio Morales." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Adrien Williams" photoUserId=""/>

A Cozy Conversation Pit in a New York Guesthouse

A Renovated Melbourne Victorian With a Peaceful Sunken Living Room

A Concrete- and Wood-Clad Getaway Near Mexico City

A Sunken Children’s Playroom in Lima, Peru

A Rugged Tiny Home in the Sierra Nevada Mountains

A DIY Home on New Zealand’s North Island

An Australian Architect’s Ever-Changing Family Home

A Minimalist Sunken Lounge in Portland, Oregon

The Wriff House by Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio is located on a steep riverside site in Portland, Oregon. The sunken living room delineates the spaces while keeping an open-plan layout. The minimalist lounge area also features a double-sided fireplace and expansive views." layout="" credit="Photo by Haris Kenjar" photoUserId="6463557165416808448"/>

A Japanese-Inspired Outdoor Fire Pit in Missouri

A Circular Conversation Pit in a Pool in Italy

A Tropical Take on a Modernist Tradition in Miami

A Sunken Outdoor Kitchen at a Family Retreat in Nova Scotia

Related Reading:

How to Update a Midcentury Modern Gem

23 Renovated Eichlers That Epitomize Midcentury California Cool

Appears In

7 Paint Colors That Nail the Midcentury-Modern Look

The Conversation Pit Makes a Big Comeback in These Fabulous Sunken Living Spaces