Last year in Milan, I visited the exhibition by Loro Piana x Dimore Milano, ‘La Prima Notte di Quiete,’ where an enormous sunken seating area dominated the staged living room. See here: Dimore studio creates four immersive worlds during Milan Design Week 2025 While the seating area may well date from another era, the idea behind it feels surprisingly contemporary.
Instead of placing a sofa around a television, the space revolves around people, conversations, and togetherness. Low seating, generous dimensions, and modular forms create a more relaxed way of life. While the conversation pit once meant literally lowering the floor, today the same idea can be achieved without changing the architecture. Modular seating, generous proportions, and softer, rounded forms can create a space that naturally brings people closer together.
It was actually a recent email from Béton Brut that made me think about conversation pits again. The London gallery currently has Ennio Chiggio’s Environ Zero in its collection, a 1970s modular sofa that creates a similar feeling of gathering.
Environ Zero by Ennio Chiggio
Ennio Chiggio’s Environ Zero for Nikol International a 1970s design and consists of three separate elements that can be used on their own or combined. The low proportions and generous shape give it a relaxed feel, while the modular design allows the seating arrangement to change with the space.
I particularly like the contrast between its architectural shape and the softer feel of the newly upholstered version in sandy mohair velvet. More info at Beton Brut
Béton Brut
Béton Brut is a London gallery pecialising in collectible design, with a focus on sculptural forms, founded in 2013 by design dealer Sophie Pearce.
The gallery works with private and trade clients to source, restore, commission and loan pieces for projects. Béton Brut also collaborates with emerging and established designers to create exclusive and often limited-edition collections.
Images: Béton Brut
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