Tanzo Space Design has completed a house in Beijing, China, with a sunken conversation pit as one of its main features.
A place to gather
The pit was designed as a spot where the family can get together and entertain guests. It is screened from public view, yet it can be seen from many rooms of the house.
Concrete seating in water
The pit is built from concrete and sits inside a shallow water feature. A short flight of stairs leads down to the built-in seating that runs around it.
After dark
At night, concealed lighting shows off the form of the pit. A fire table at the centre can be lit, and soft cushions on the benches give it the feel of sitting around a campfire.
Planning a sunken seating area
As a general point, sinking a seating area below floor level makes a room within a room without walls. Drainage, safe steps and lighting need to be planned early, especially where the space is close to water.
Project credits
- Project: private house with a sunken conversation pit, Beijing, China
- Design: Tanzo Space Design
- Chief designer: Wang Daquan
- Project planning: Wang Kun
- Lighting design: Guangyan Shengpin
- Photography: Shi Yunfeng
- Source: Contemporist