What kinds of words and imagery do you associate with the classic conversation pit" Shag carpeting, almost certainly. “Retro” and “kitsch,” for sure. You might even go so far as to say ?tacky.? But what about words like “bold,” “fresh,” “chic,” and “futuristic”"

From the moment you first spot its sleek contemporary facade from the curb, the McGovern Residence in the Queensland, Australia town of Mooloolaba seems like an unlikely place to find such an outdated feature. Pass through the garden gate and into its high-ceilinged concrete interiors, and the idea becomes ever more ludicrous. But believe it or not, this stylish modern space only offers more evidence that the sunken conversation pit is having a bit of a moment right now, broaching the possibility that the trend might even make its way into everyday interiors sometime soon.
Previously, we?ve featured updated versions of the conversation pit in multiple contemporary homes, including a cozy reading nook in a minimalist Czech home and a luxe, well-padded amethyst lounge pit within a glass-walled room in Cupertino, California. Both of these examples saw the pit padded and upholstered to create more space for lying down. At the McGovern Residence, designed by the Australian firm Reitsma, a modern conversation pit echoes the shapes of the 60s and 70s originals with a sunken semi-circular couch, but it somehow feels natur...