across the u.s.mid-century modernvirginia
Hollin Hills, Virginia
A 326-acre neighborhood in Fairfax County, Virginia, just south of Alexandria, with about 460 modern houses designed mostly by architect Charles Goodman for developer Robert Davenport. Built from 1949 to 1971, it was listed on the National Register in 2013 and became a county historic overlay district in 2022.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- built1949–1971site planning from 1946
- housesabout 460mostly Charles Goodman designs
- lots⅓–½ acre326 acres in all
- designation2013 · 2022National Register · county overlay
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Window wallsRows of floor-to-ceiling, 3-foot-wide window modules in structural Douglas fir frames, with the glass originally set in putty.
- Low roofsMostly shallow gable roofs at a 3-in-12 slope, plus flat, shed and butterfly roofs.
- A few plans, many housesGoodman drew eight unit-type designs whose variations made fifteen combinations. After he left in 1961, the developer added three types and custom houses by other architects.
- Set into the landHouses angle to the street and step with the slope; split-levels read as one story from the street, and there are notably few fences.
- Natural materialsExposed wood framing, masonry end walls and sculptural chimneys, with cypress, fir or redwood siding (T-111 plywood after 1953).
- Landscape plansLandscape architects Lou Bernard Voigt, Dan Kiley and Eric Paepcke drew plans for individual owners; Kiley drew as many as 100, most never built.
protection
Designation and the rules
- National Register, 2013Listed September 30, 2013 as the Hollin Hills Historic District (after the Virginia Landmarks Register in June 2013). National Register listing alone doesn’t restrict private owners.
- Fairfax County historic overlay, 2022Since March 8, 2022, exterior work that needs a building permit must have its design approved by the county’s Architectural Review Board first.
- The neighborhood’s own design reviewDeed covenants set up a design review committee in 1949. It reviews any project that changes a home’s exterior, not only permit work, and owners go to it before the county board.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Single or double glassThe window walls were single-pane glass; many have been replaced with double-pane. Ask which, and when.
- Roofs and drainsLow-slope, flat and butterfly roofs take the most weather, and their interior drains need regular upkeep.
- The windows hold up the roofThe window frames are part of the structure, so changing them is a structural change.
- Approvals for past workAsk for the design review committee’s approvals for earlier changes, and the county board’s for exterior work since 2022.
- ParkingMany houses had parking pads at the street rather than driveways, so adding a carport or garage means a new driveway and a design review.
Each point comes from the National Register nomination or the civic association’s design review page below. Radiant heat isn’t mentioned in the nomination, so don’t assume it.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- Virginia DHR: Hollin Hills Historic District, National Register nomination (2013)Houses, plans, materials, acreage, lot sizes, condition notes.www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/029-5471-Hollin_Hills_HD_2013_NRHP_Final.pdf
- Virginia DHR: register listing 029-5471Listing dates.www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/029-5471/
- Fairfax County: Hollin Hills Historic Overlay DistrictOverlay district and Architectural Review Board.www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/historic-overlay-districts/hollin-hills
- Civic Association of Hollin Hills: Design ReviewDesign review committee process.hollinhills.org/designreview
- The Cultural Landscape Foundation: Hollin Hills (2009)Landscape plans.tclf.org/features/hollin-hills-architecture-and-landscape
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
Where is Hollin Hills?
In Fairfax County, Virginia, south of the City of Alexandria (its mailing address is Alexandria), roughly bounded by Paul Spring Road on the north and Fort Hunt Road on the east.
How many houses are there?
About 460, built from 1949 to 1971; the National Register nomination attributes more than 460 houses to Charles Goodman’s designs.
Can a Hollin Hills house be changed?
Yes, with approvals: the neighborhood’s design review committee reviews exterior changes, and since 2022 exterior work that needs a permit also goes to Fairfax County’s Architectural Review Board.
more to learn
Keep going
- Carderock Springs, BethesdaEdmund Bennett’s 1960s modern subdivision in Maryland.
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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