You have most certainly heard the story of the phoenix, a bird that burns in its own fire only to rise again from its ashes. Something similar is happening in the home remodeling sector as well. We have seen countless design ideas die a quiet death, but then again, the same ideas start gaining traction and become the hot favorite among the masses. The conversation pit died a thousand deaths decades ago, but somehow it manages to crawl its way back into this modern age. The conversation pit was quite a common sight in mid-century houses but vanished without a trace, only to reappear with a bang. Maybe it is the nostalgia that is to be blamed for it, but the conversation pit has definitely cemented its place in the market. Most people that I have talked to have got bored with the concept of having flat and open-plan rooms; they were looking for something unique, something different that can add to the overall aesthetics of the room.
The Pull of the Pit
If you are like me, you would definitely like the idea of sitting below ground level every now and then. It gives you a new perspective on everything around you in general. Long ago, people loved to light a fire and gather around it. In those times, this practice helped people build a strong bond and foster a sense of community. Legendary designers like Bruce Goff and Eero Saarinen managed to tap into this interesting yet long-forgotten tradition and came up with a little bowl for modern humans so that they can sit around and relive a sense of belonging that no grand mansion can offer, no matter how luxurious the building is. There is something deeply grounding about it. You just sit there surrounded by other like-minded folks, without facing any kind of distractions. There is a stark absence of high chairs, smartphones, etc. It allows you just to sink in and talk to people. Since we are living in a hyper-distracted age, the very thought of ditching smartphones and spending quality time with like-minded people feels almost like a radical idea.
Safety: The Awkward Reality Check
Contrary to what people believe, most modern living rooms are not designed to allow people to dig a hole right in the middle of it. The insulation layers, load paths, and other things work in perfect harmony to make a living room a perfect place to rejoice and rewind. If you try, you can definitely feel a quiet orchestra working together to your living room in perfect shape and order against all odds and no matter how much you like the idea of a conversation pit, most modern living rooms don’t allow you to pick up a sledgehammer and carve out a three-foot-deep hole.
I know that most homeowners in the USA have a love-hate relationship with structural engineers for some weird reasons, but a vast majority of structural engineers will argue against cutting into a slab or joist system because it can seriously undermine the integrity of the building. If it is a wooden floor, please don’t pick up an axe and try to hack your way through it because that would weaken the structure. But God forbid, if the structure is made of concrete, good luck to you. Please don’t rent a jackhammer and try to blast your way through. That would prove counterintuitive, to say the least.
Permits: The Bureaucratic Abyss
If you believe that you can easily convince your local building department that you are planning to dig a hole into the floor of your living room, you are in for a rude surprise, for sure. Almost all municipalities in the United States will treat this plan of yours as structural alteration, and that means you will have to get approval from engineers. In the case where you are living in an old home, you will have to deal with tons of other issues as well. You will have to deal with egress checks, seismic compliance, and foundation inspection.
Now, some people might laugh it off by saying that it is just a minor change until you realize that the HVAC flow of the house and the fire safety regulations might be flouted in the process. And forget about ADA compliance, because this modification goes against the basic tenets of ADA. And in the case where you are planning to sell the house for some emergency, you need to be upfront about the modification, otherwise, you would soon find yourself a complete legal mess. Contrary to what most people believe, most buyers would consider this modification a red flag and not a modern architectural magnum opus. Yeah, it sucks!
The Layout: Depth, Angles, Chaos
The idea behind this conversation pit was to create a sense of intimacy in the late 1950s. Most architects during that time period believed that they could create a separate and quaint space for conversation without building a wall in the process. The idea was simple – just dig a hole in the floor, and there you have it. However, modern designers are not in favor of digging a three-foot-deep pit in the middle of a living room; instead, they are opting for an 8 to 12 inch deep pit to achieve a similar cozy effect. They are selecting furniture that have similar square edges or curved edges.
Seats wrapped in upholstered foam or hardwood are in vogue these days, and to save more space and to make space for more items, some homeowners are now opting for furniture with storage tucked underneath. A typical 12×12 pit can easily accommodate 6 to 8 people without making them feel claustrophobic in the process. And don’t forget about recessed floor LEDs, because traditional LED bulbs would not help illuminate the space as the pit drops at least 2 to 3 feet than the rest of the room. You either need indirect strip lighting to illuminate that space or you have to put your trust in recessed floor LEDs. Don’t forget about USB ports, because believe it or not, you are going to need them the most when you will be chilling with your buddies.
