Homes from the 1950s to the late 1970s included unique designs and features you don’t find in homes today. Some designs radically changed the layout of rooms in a way that was modern. One of these designs, called the conversation pit, changed the way living rooms were thought of in the mid-20th century.
The conversation pit creates a sunken area of the living room that is meant to bring people together in a secluded section of the home. Conversation pits were often oriented around a fireplace, just like the conversation pit pictured above, which is from the Benedict home in Bryan. The fireplace in this photograph is double-sided and is made of California Drift Stone.
The Benedict Home was designed by Joan Benedict in 1974, and her plans were then sent to her friend’s husband, who was an architect. The construction of the home took 18 months and was completed in 1976. The conversation pit in the Benedict home has two steps going down and is lined with Red Cedar, like the rest of the living room.
–This photograph and article are by Max Oberlin.