HOLLIN HILLS

A PREMIER DC AREA MID-CENTURY NEIGHBORHOOD

Nestled in southeastern Fairfax County, just 10 miles south of Alexandria, Hollin Hills is an iconic master-planned mid-century modern neighborhood that redefined suburban living in the Washington, DC area. Created between 1946 and 1971, Hollin Hills encompasses approximately 326 acres and boasts 450 architecturally significant homes, all thoughtfully sited within wooded rolling hills. This classic community was designated both a Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places Historic District in 2013.

The neighborhood was shaped by visionary architect Charles M. Goodman and developer Robert C. Davenport, who collaborated to build what Goodman called “a new and unique community” - an architectural laboratory for modular, affordable modern homes. Goodman designed eight modern house types with 15 variations, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls, flat roofs, open floor plans, and angled siting to maximize privacy and integrate seamlessly with nature. Landscape architects including Lou “Barney” Voight, Daniel Urban Kiley, and Eric Paepcke accentuated each lot’s terrain and vegetation, making Hollin Hills a standout example of mid-century modern design nestled in lush greenery.

Today Hollin Hills endures as a well-preserved architectural gem in northern Virginia. Its Historic Overlay District status, established in 2022 by Fairfax County, imposes design review standards that help maintain the neighborhood’s cohesive aesthetic and wide open feel. The Civic Association of Hollin Hills (CAHH) manages community amenities, including seven parks, a swim and pickleball/tennis club, and robust preservation events like biennial house-and-garden tours - all reinforcing Hollin Hills’ reputation as a forward-thinking, mid-century enclave with deep historic and cultural significance in the DMV region.