Hollin Hills Welcomes 2018 Tour

Well more than 1,000 mid-century modern fans hiked or drove through Hollin Hills on April 28 as part of the 2018 edition of the Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour. The self-guided tour, held every two years, showcased examples of the mid-century modern architecture of Charles M. Goodman, FAIA.

The Hollin Hills Historic District is a residential neighborhood set within a 326-acre wooded landscape of Fairfax County, Virginia. Hollin Hills was developed as one of the first post-World War II planned communities in the Washington, D.C. area, and one consisting entirely of modern architecture using natural topography and landscaping as an intrinsic part of the design. The neighborhood was named to the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 30, 2013. The foundation of Hollin Hill’s success was the collaborative interpretation of the traditional large-scale merchant building practices by developer/builder Robert C. Davenport and architect Goodman.

The subdivision plan has irregularly shaped lots that embrace the natural topography, winding streets and cul-de-sacs, and communal parks and woodlands that provide shade, privacy and outdoor space. The development was intentionally designed to be a part of the landscape, marrying the modern houses with the existing topographical patterns. A product of the Modern Movement, the buildings were created from standardized plans with prefabricated modular elements and window walls that unite the interior with the outdoors. One of the most identifiable facets of the houses is the contiguous series of floor-to-ceiling, 3-foot-wide window modules, which are free of traditional ornamentation.

Before the tour began, Docomomo DC Board Member John A. Burns, FAIA, gave a lecture entitled "A History of Hollin Hills.”

Photos by Michael Shapiro