the hollin hills journal
modern living for modern people in modern houses
hollin hills: a midcentury modern masterpiece
Just a few miles south of Washington DC, past the stately old colonial buildings of Alexandria, Virginia, sits one of the most unusual — and beautiful — communities in America.
Nestled into a rolling, park-like setting, more than 450 mid-century modern houses seem to float weightlessly in a canopy of trees. There are no traditional suburban houses here, and few fences or barriers of any kind. Instead, the houses — with walls of glass and clean, geometric lines — perch lightly in the wooded hillsides, as if they were part of the landscape itself.
The place is Hollin Hills — perhaps the most thoughtfully-designed and well-preserved modernist community anywhere in the world. Built between 1946 and 1971, it was the brainchild of developer Robert Davenport and architect Charles Goodman, visionaries who wanted to bring a bold new approach to housing in America — and who believed that modern architecture could foster both community and, as Goodman put it, “the flowering of the individual.”
Davenport and Goodman turned these wooded hills into an “architectural laboratory,” creating a community both strikingly modern and utterly natural. Pared to an elegant simplicity, the houses have wide expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows to erase the line between indoors and outdoors, while the light-filled “open-plan” interiors create a sense of freedom and space.
And the architecture’s integration into the steep terrain remains particularly striking. The houses don’t try to dominate the landscape — they embrace it. Rather than being laid out on a bulldozed grid, the streets follow the natural flow of the hills, with the houses set at unique angles to enhance views into the trees. Fences are rare, and each property flows freely into the next, tying the community together into a green and park-like whole.
Now, seven decades after its founding, Hollin Hills remains a masterpiece of modern architecture. The winner of numerous design awards, it’s had a lasting impact on postwar American housing and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But it’s also a vibrant, living community of creative people in almost every field, from architects and writers to lawyers and physicians, drawn by the beauty of the architecture and the imaginative freedom it seems to represent.
Is it the modernist utopia its founders dreamed of? Maybe not quite. But as the architecture critic Michael Sorkin once put it, “Hollin Hills is one of the truly happy experiments in modernity … the kind of community so many modernists dreamed of, a beautiful place of social activism, love of nature, and potluck picnics.”
— Stephen Brookes, Editor
enjoy the
smörgåsbord …
the modern life in hollin hills
flamingo eggs, sky mirrors, and the imaginary department of gumbo
Landscape architect Dennis Carmichael creates a fantastical “found art” garden in Hollin Hills.
Quick Takes: The View From the Hills
A look into the creative mind of landscape architect Dennis Carmichael (warning: flamingos) … a talk on design genius and odd man Russel Wright… the strange saga of the Winged Victory of Hollin Hills … and more!
Sign to Sign: An Epic Amble Through Hollin Hills
Seth Styers sets out to walk every street in Hollin Hills in one go — and discovers an abandoned ghost, a blasé snake, a cow wearing a hat and other wonders, right here in our own back yard.
George Nakashima in Hollin Hills
As Charles Goodman was designing Hollin Hills, the woodworker George Nakashima was wreaking a similar revolution in furniture — and Hollin Hills soon became a showcase for Nakashima’s pathbreaking designs.
Street Dreams, Baby: the Kandy-Kolored 1955 Road Runner on Elba
Walking down Elba? Prepare to be dazzled by the drop-dead coolness of a1955 Road Runner mobile home, one of the great icons of the Atomic Age.
Public Television Likes Us! They Really, Really Like Us!
When a Hollin Hills house was featured on PBS in 2023, we just about died from blushing. No, really, we did! (But … we liked it.)
New! A Field Guide to the Houses of Hollin Hills
The architectural landscape of Hollin Hills encompasses a range of modernist house designs, all deeply interconnected. Here’s our guide to the different types — with an interactive map to identify the model of any home.
So … You’re in Love with a Hollin Hiller! A Guide to Modern Romance
Ok, we get it — we’re all in love with a Hollin Hiller. But if you’re new to this, you may be in trouble — better read our guide to modern romance, stat!
Spring Cleaning, Freeganism, and Baby-Proofing the Black Hole of Despair
The avalanche of Stuff is coming. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
The Beautiful, Beguiling World of Bobbie Godwin
Abstract painter Bobbie Godwin has been at the heart of the Hollin Hills art scene for decades — and, at 88, is still creating unique, captivating and wildly inventive work.
Poet Cliff Bernier Turns to the Oceans for his New Book
Poet Cliff Bernier is best known for his beat poetry. But for his latest collection — titled Ocean Suite — he turns his ear to the sea for a suite of poems that probe the deep waters of sound, language, and meaning itself.
The Joys and Terrors of Other People: An Introvert’s Guide to Hollin Hills
Introverts abound in Hollin Hills, bringing creativity, productivity … and much-needed quiet.
“The setting that people live in can create the climate for living as dignified human beings. What we need and yearn for is the flowering of the individual.”
— Charles Goodman
The Visionary Architecture of Charles Goodman
Hollin Hills was launched in the 1940s as an “architectural laboratory” that would build community, connect people with nature, and encourage the “flowering of the individual.”
The Restoration of Alcoa House
Lee and Peter Braun brought a rare 1957 Goodman design back to its full glory with a meticulous restoration — and saved an important part of modern architectural history.
Who was Charles Goodman?
Architect, philosopher, populist, dreamer — the designer of Hollin Hills was a complex, driven and sometimes difficult figure who helped shape the look of the postwar world.
The Hollin Hills Design Review and Approval Process
Planning an exterior renovation? You’ll need to get approval from the Civic Association’s Design Review Committee, and the Architectural Review Board. Here’s a quick guide.
Cape Cod Modernism
In the 1940s, a gang of adventurous young architects — led by Harvard’s Walter Gropius — began putting up simple, ultra-modern summer homes on Cape Cod. A handful have been restored — and are available to rent.
The Life and Work of Charles Goodman
An excellent, in-depth overview of Goodman’s work, prepared by architectural historian Elizabeth Jo Lampl.
“Danish modern? Coastal grandma? You’ll find everything from Scandifornian kitchens to Mad Men living rooms in Hollin Hills …”
Modern Art and the Hollin Hills Home
Hollin Hills artist and collector Rick Ward talks about his life in the world of contemporary art, how to build a collection — and why we need to live with beauty.
Design: At Home with Finn Juhl
A tour of Finn Juhl’s home in Copenhagen sheds light on this pathbreaking — if somewhat neglected — genius, one of the giants of the “golden age” of Danish Modern furniture design.
Tsunami Modern: The Anything-Goes Interiors of Hollin Hills Homes
Hollin Hills homes are as eclectic as their owners. But the roots of Hollin Hills design go deep into its modernist past.
House Tour: Kid-Friendly Modern
Architect Michael Cook transformed a Marthas Road house into a stunning home for a young family, blending clean lines, a new master bedroom, an open workspace and windows that let the kids “watch the world outside go by.”
House Tour: Eclectic Modern
This Hollin Hills house blends vintage Danish Modern furniture, Asian antiquities, and African artifacts into a harmonious whole — a lesson in how modernist architecture allows for a near-limitless range of styles.
The “Intimate Connection” Between Art, Artists and Collectors
Hollin Hills potter Susan Cohen explores the way we live with art — and how it can bind us to each other.
“I want to tie one lot into the other to make the community look as if there were no individual lots, but a beautiful park” — Lou “Barney” Voigt, original landscape architect
Essay: A Landscape of Democracy
Landscape architect Dennis Carmichael takes a deep, thoughtful dive into the philosophy behind the innovative landscape design of Hollin Hills, which integrates the “natural” and “cultural” worlds we live in.
An Elegant Garden Inspired by an Original Kiley Plan
In planning their natural, four-season garden, two Beechwood Road homeowners turned to the original 1953 landscape plan by architect Daniel Kiley.
Barney Voigt and the Birth of the Hollin Hills Landscape
Guided by landscape architect Lou “Barney” Voigt, the first Hollin Hills pioneers took an experimental approach to landscaping that knit the modernist architecture together.
Meet the Landscape Architects
Modernist designers Barney Voigt, Dan Kiley and Eric Paepcke each brought their own cutting-edge style to Hollin Hills — and transformed the landscape of the community.
The Original Landscape Plans
Professional landscape plans were prepared for each property in Hollin Hills in the community’s first decades. Many of those plans are held at the Library of Congress and Harvard University; here’s how to get yours.
A Landscape Aesthetic for Hollin Hills
Award-winning landscape architect Dennis Carmichael wrote this definitive, 1989 guide to modernist landscaping.
A Nature Library Comes to Mccalley
A park bench, a sunny morning, and a stack of books on butterflies and baby animals. What more could a bookworm want? We spent a morning exploring the new and very entertaining Little Free Library in McCalley Park.
“We deeply need more offbeat personalities, more people with unique interests, more people strong enough to stand unafraid and be themselves.” — Charles Goodman
Artists, Spies and other Neighbors
Hollin Hills has always been as notable for its residents as for its pathbreaking architecture. Meet a few of the creative, committed and accomplished people — from Roberta Flack to Leslie Gelb — who have made this unique community their home.
Jeanne Gayler, Hollin Hills Heart Throb
Meet Jeanne Gayler — Miss America runner-up, Hollywood starlet … and founder of the Committee on East-West Accord, the most important anti-nuclear proliferation organization in Washington, DC.
Jerome Gordon: Please Do Not Jump On The Viola!
Hollin Hills virtuoso Jerome Gordon has toured with Celine Dion, coached movie stars and performed for the Pope. So he really does not need to hear your viola jokes.
Friendship: Birding with Barry
Peter Kinzler remembers an avian outing with his friend Barry Pearson — an adventure into the perils and pleasures of the remarkable world of birders.
Wiretapped in Hollin Hills: the Bernard Fall Story
One of the most influential scholars and journalists of the Vietnam era, Bernard Fall lived in Hollin Hills while writing perhaps his most important book — and was spied on by the FBI while he was here.
A HIRO of Modern Art
From a World War Two internment camp to the Smithsonian, a Marthas Road artist has fought for justice through art — and left a searing mark on the world.
galleries
“Hollin Hills seems to attract creative thinkers, nature lovers and artists, who somehow have a way of inspiring each other” — Lynne Chytilo
The Lautman Collection: Hollin Hills in the 1950’s
Some of the earliest photographs of Hollin Hills were taken by the renowned architectural photographer Robert C. Lautman, who chronicled the rise of modernism.
The Art of Dennis Carmichael
Superb drawings of many Hollin Hills homes by landscape architect Dennis Carmichael.
Gallery: Alcoa House
A collection of photographs and sales materials for the Goodman-designed “Alcoa House” on Elba Road
“In 1946, fledgling developer Robert C. Davenport bought 225 acres of hilly, undeveloped land in Alexandria, Virginia. The rest is history.”
Hollin Hills: The Birth of an Idea
Original Hollin Hills settler Marion Tiger takes a fascinating, in-depth look at how Hollin Hills was launched in the 1940s, drawing on interviews with developer Robert Davenport, architect Charles Goodman, and many others.
Now It Can Be Told:
The Complete History of Hollin Hills
Explore our illustrated timeline of Hollin Hills, from1946 to whatever happened last week.
The Archives
There’s a wealth of historical material about Hollin Hills dating back to 1949 — photographs, memoirs, blueprints, landscape plans, sales documents, you name it. Most of it is held at George Mason University, Harvard University and the Library of Congress … but we have a few of the more interesting things digitized here.
David Morton: Heart of Glass
This excellent article on Charles Goodman’s architecture by writer David Morton is a must-read for anyone interested in Goodman, or in Hollin Hills.
Michael Sorkin: Happy Experiment In Modernity
In 1999, the architect Michael Sorkin — who grew up in Hollin Hills and went on to become one of the most important critics of his generation — wrote this essay on his life in the early years of the community.
Hollin Hills at 75: Modern Then. Modern Now. Modern Forever.
Why does the architecture of Hollin Hills still feel so new? It may be the spirit of daring that inspired Charles Goodman’s innovative designs.
Jennifer Kabat: The Fairytale
One of the most thoughtful and interesting pieces ever written about the people and culture of Hollin Hills in its early years, this article by Jennifer Kabat, published in Granta magazine in 2016, is a must-read for anyone interested in Hollin Hills.
“There’s been a strong sense of community in Hollin Hills from the very beginning, and now — enhanced by the many traditions, organizations, get-togethers and publications that have blossomed over the years — that feeling has only deepened …”
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Hollin Hills
From “where did Hollin Hills get its name?” to “who was the first person born in Hollin Hills?”, we have all the answers. (Well ... eighteen of the answers, anyway.)
Join the 2026 Hollin Hills House+ Garden Tour
Every two years, Hollin Hills opens its doors for its legendary House + Garden Tour — the largest modernist tour on the East Coast. The next tour is scheduled for 2026; sign up on the tour’s website for updates.
Community Guide: The Care and Feeding of Hollin Hillers
The complete guide to everything you need to know to thrive in Hollin Hills. From getting involved in community life, to the traditions and culture, to volunteering in the parks, to the odd little Hollin Hills cookbook … we have you covered.
The Hollin Hills Design Review and Approval Process
Planning an exterior renovation? You’ll need to get approval from the Civic Association’s Design Review Committee, as well as the Fairfax County Architectural Review Board. Here’s a quick guide to the process.
The Hollin Hills Forum
The Hollin Hills Forum is a privately-moderated, online discussion group open to current and former Hollin Hills residents. It’s moderated by Alan Warshawer (who launched it with Tom Fina in 2004) and Dennis Brown, and it’s a sometimes maddening but always interesting resource.
The Hollin Hills Pool
There are two convenient pools available to residents, located at opposite sides of Hollin Hills: the Hollin Hills Pool, located at 1602 Paul Spring Road; and the Hollin Meadows Swim and Tennis Club, located at 2500 Woodlawn Trail.
Hollin Hills: Community of Vision
Hollin Hills: Community of Vision is the definitive book on the architecture, philosophy and culture of one of the most innovative modernist communities in the United States. Now in its third printing, it’s available for $65 plus shipping.
historic status and preservation
A List of the Houses in the Hollin Hills Historic District
House model, date built, additions and other information (Appendix C of the HOD Guidelines).
The Hollin Hills Historic Overlay District Design Guidelines
A complete guide from the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, with a wealth of information for homeowners.
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
The National Register of Historic Places registration form is an invaluable source of information about the history and architecture of Hollin Hills.
Modernism in Washington, DC
This 20-page brochure on postwar modernist architecture in the Washington, DC area was adapted from a 2009 study prepared for the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office.
odds and ends
Brochure for the 1953 Exhibit House
For the first Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour in 1953, a new home design with a butterfly roof was unveiled — and was furnished by Knoll Associates. Here’s the original brochure.
Hollin Hills: An Artistic Legacy 1949-1999
This catalogue for a 1999 exhibition highlights the work of some 64 artists who lived in Hollin Hills. An invaluable survey, including biographies of the artists.
Modernist Links
Modernism is everywhere — check out these amazing places to explore, from Ville Savoye to Philip Johnson’s Glass House.
Early Hollin Hills Brochures and Sales Contracts
A set of Hollin Hills sales brochures, as well as sales, construction and landscaping documents for a 1950 Hollin Hills house.
