A conversation pit is a unique and cozy architectural feature typically found in homes and public spaces.
THEY gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s.
is to create a sunken or semi-recessed seating area that encourages intimate and comfortable gatherings or conversations.
the 21st century has seen somewhat of a revival of the conversation pit.
in response largely to late 20th century living rooms becoming largely screen oriented, the contemporary conversation pit acts in protest to personal disengagement associated with excess screen-time.
a light revival of the physical conversation pit does not make this architectual wondeer any less endangered.
whilst future housing is likely to lack the space to build a physical pit, this does not invalidate the desire for a more intimate environment to socialise.
bespoke furntiture pieces such as those found in Pierre Paulin's modular "dune" collection may serve to emulate the screen-free communal social space, in adobes which lack the architectural means.
The project of the house of the Alférez Gorge takes its origin from the concept of a cabin and the romantic idea of a protective shelter in the middle of the forest; an isolated house seeking to resemble an object that would have been deposited on the ground, among the trees.
A striking mid-century inspired extension to the Victorian property, this London based Architecture Firm has created a sense of character and conversation with this raw pink concrete addition, with a conversation pit at the heart.
The Iconic TWA Flight Centre spent nearly two decades in a state of disuse before its 2019 reopening. Acting as a time-capsule to a more romanticised time in the history of aviation, The Sunken Lounge acts as the centrepiece of this historic modernist wonder.
The second Palm Springs house designed by Albert Frey, for himself naturally, this wonder has become a hillside landmark. Built to have little impact on the natural surroundings, this properties Conversation Pit is defined by the natural rock formation, which breaches the side of the house, interjecting all conversations.
Two-levels of glass which overlook the celebrated wilderness of Northern California, this dwelling contours the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The embedded conversation pit acts as an inverted terrarium, with no other furnishings in place to taint the surreal views of the local environment.
Self-described as "a sculpture to live within", this Melbourne House features an iconic zinc disc rooftop, which leave the impression of an atomic-age spacecraft landing pad. Whatever your interpretation, you can discuss for hours in front of the concrete fireplace found in the Conversation Pit.
This Website has been developed in response to a Webflow Weekly Challenge, which charged us with the development an interesting mouse movement interaction.
Rather than simply creating one "cool" mouse interaction, I developed several, and have presented them in a concept website which celebrates an often forgotten architectural and social feature.
The about paragraph provides relevant information on the subject, providing contextual images revealed on hover that follow the custom cursor.
The custom crafted gallery features bespoke animations, with a sense of physicality. Whilst hovering over the thumbnails, the images jump to life, prompting users to explore more.
For a more immersive view, the "hide info" hover block will temporarily dismiss the information and navigation, for a full bleed image experience.
All animations are tied together through the use of a custom cursor which responds contextually to local elements.
This website has been designed and built by George Brown, a Webflow Wizard and Digital Designer, practicing under the name B43.DESIGN
I pride myself on the design and developments of exciting digital experiences, which subvert expectations whilst remaining user friendly.
Check out the links below to discover more about my practice, and to take the first step in building your brand, better.
