Sometimes beauty springs from revolutionary solutions: sunken seating, or the “conversation pit” (as it is more affectionately known), comes from the concept of subtraction; lounge areas hollowed out in the floor that define a new dimension of space. Like an intimate domestic agora, they create an environment that stimulates conviviality, where loved ones can huddle together, relax, and tell endless stories.

The aesthetic power of sunken seating finds new supporters among contemporary designers, who interpret its conceptual freedom as a playful space in which to rediscover a sense of connection that was temporarily put on hold. With its minimal style, sunken seating offers both a simplification of the furniture, as well as a visual connection between spaces intended for different functions. There, between the cosy padded seating, the viewer’s gaze is opened up to new perspectives, across limitless horizontal space.

The boundless structure of sunken seating was first created almost a century ago, when Bruce Goff designed an Art Deco style villa with an unusual feature: a conversation pit in the centre of the living room. The idea was revived in 1957 by Eero Sarrinen and Alexander Girard, who used a particular built-in structure for the living room of the Miller House in Columbus, Indiana. There, a hollowed out stone structure is adorned with an array of bright cushions to provide an intimate and colourful experience, the perfect space for entertaining and socialising. Since then, the concept of a sunken space has found widespread use in American design, so much so that Saarinen created one in the TWA Flight Center, New York, allowing passengers an interrupted view of all airport operations from the enormous waiting room.

The search for new conversation spaces, new niches for socialising, is echoed in the intimate features of sunken gardens: like invisible scenography, they provide an ideal setting for outdoor relaxation, around the seductive heat of a fire, or illuminated by the reflections of an outdoor pool. Outdoor sunkens are fluid spaces that encourage connection and conviviality.

A poetic meeting point between cultures, they bring together the charm of design and the natural warmth of nomadic inspiration, perfectly in keeping with the values of Jwana Hamdan. The Wandering Majlis collection combines an extraordinary blend of rich materials with organic patterns for textiles with an evocative and elegant feel.

With their custom designed layout, Jwana Hamdan cushions are the result of a harmonious balance between hospitality, creativity, and cutting edge technology: execution is precise to the millimetre, and the use of polyurethane of different densities offers a performance that will stand up to the test of time. The beauty of the shapes conceals a water-repellent and breathable inner lining, designed to brave the elements with confidence.

Perfection, creativity, and custom made service are combined with a solid, sustainable vision: the fabrics are fully recyclable, while the polyurethane and fibres of the internal padding are made with plant-based polyols. The upholstery production process uses certified renewable energies to ensure reduced environmental impact.