Washington DC, Modern & Contemporary Detached Homes For Sale

The terms modern and contemporary homes are often used synonymously, although there are distinctions. Modern architecture most commonly refers back to the modernism movement that came into being during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as a reaction to the industrial age. Think, for instance, of simple shapes and cubism. Contemporary simply means that which is current. Contemporary design is also often thought of as a trend that gained popularity during the 1950s and 1960s.

Contemporary Homes for Sale in the Washington Metropolitan Area

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7020 Green Oak Dr, MCLEAN

$50,000,000

7020 Green Oak Dr, MCLEAN

6 Beds 12 Baths 30,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2168030

PARKVIEW HILLS

612 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

$22,000,000

612 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

8 Beds 10.5 Baths 16,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2156886

RIVER OAKS

1175 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

$19,900,000

↓ $1,100,000

1175 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

4 Beds 4 Baths 0 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2028910

LANGLEY OAKS

1169 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

$17,500,000

1169 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

4 Beds 5.5 Baths 8,800 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2160662

CREST LANE

2815 Woodland Dr Nw, WASHINGTON

$13,500,000

↓ $1,000,000

2815 Woodland Dr Nw, WASHINGTON

5 Beds 8 Baths 14,697 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2098654

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE HEIGHTS

620 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

$8,997,000

620 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

6 Beds 5.5 Baths 12,548 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2167120

RIVER OAKS

2011 Foxhall Road Nw, WASHINGTON

$7,995,000

2011 Foxhall Road Nw, WASHINGTON

7 Beds 8.5 Baths 9,999 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2119316

PHILLIPS PARK

1039 Aziza Ct, GREAT FALLS

$7,500,000

1039 Aziza Ct, GREAT FALLS

6 Beds 9.5 Baths 13,667 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2164062

PUTNAM FARM ESTATES

3001 Foxhall Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

$6,996,995

3001 Foxhall Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

6 Beds 7.5 Baths 7,633 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2129840

WESLEY HEIGHTS

1120 Guilford Ct, MCLEAN

$6,200,000

1120 Guilford Ct, MCLEAN

4 Beds 6 Baths 8,445 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2155682

RUCKERS LANGLEY

9113 Redwood Ave, BETHESDA

$5,950,000

9113 Redwood Ave, BETHESDA

6 Beds 6.5 Baths 7,700 SqFt Residential MLS® # MDMC2091434

ARROWOOD

New
1367 Tate Modern Ln, GREAT FALLS

$5,499,950

1367 Tate Modern Ln, GREAT FALLS

6 Beds 7 Baths 9,041 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2169032

ARDEN

6029 Woodland Ter, MCLEAN

$5,290,000

6029 Woodland Ter, MCLEAN

7 Beds 8 Baths 10,859 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2166538

CHESTERBROOK WOODS

4119 Rosemary St, CHEVY CHASE

$5,200,000

4119 Rosemary St, CHEVY CHASE

6 Beds 6 Baths 6,948 SqFt Residential MLS® # MDMC2109782

CHEVY CHASE

1428 Waggaman Cir, MCLEAN

$4,999,950

1428 Waggaman Cir, MCLEAN

6 Beds 7 Baths 10,153 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2159684

SALONA VILLAGE

4656 Broad Branch Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

$4,900,000

4656 Broad Branch Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

6 Beds 6.5 Baths 5,947 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2076038

FOREST HILLS

893 Georgetown Ridge Ct, MCLEAN

$4,750,000

↓ $50,000

893 Georgetown Ridge Ct, MCLEAN

6 Beds 8 Baths 10,568 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2155720

NONE AVAILABLE

7102 Capitol View, MCLEAN

$4,750,000

↑ $250,000

7102 Capitol View, MCLEAN

7 Beds 8 Baths 10,400 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2141320

HANSBOROUGH

The Mid-Century Modern era has also become a very hot trend in recent years, generally covering the period from the early 1940s to late 1960s,

That's a lot of information and sometimes it is better just to think visually—modern and contemporary homes evoke a sense of intriguing style, from abstract concepts to clean, sophisticated lines imbued with an innate sense of cool. And yes, there are some striking examples in the Washington metropolitan area.

Think of low-slung homes with overhanging roofs, tucked away in the woodsy park regionKitchen and dining area of Contemporary home typical of Washington, DCs of upscale DC neighborhoods. Or, an entire community in Alexandria, Virginia known as Hollin Hills—an award-winning midcentury modern enclave of 450 homes built by architect Charles Goodman between 1949 and 1971. These relatively modest wooden structures set into natural surroundings have attracted worldwide attention with their cubist modernity and window walls.

Modern and contemporary dwellings in the Metro area can also be multifamily affairs—such as sweeping curvilinear structures like the I.M. Pei-designed Watergate, or new mixed-use structures with hard angles that spring directly out of historic buildings in the recent trend of adaptive reuse principles.

But more than anything, these adventuress designs represent something different in a region so identified by traditional norms. And while they are not your typical designs, some can be associated with an off-shoot of Arts & Crafts architecture known as the Prairie School which is integrally linked with Frank Lloyd Wright. These homes with horizontal lines and overhanging eaves were compared to the wide-open plains and prairie geography.

These days, modern and contemporary homes in the Washington Metro area are enjoying a resurgence, designed by such notable architects as Robert Gurney, David Jameson, Hugh Jacobsen and Alan Dynerman, among many others. Builders of these thoughtfully crafted residences in upscale neighborhoods such as McLean, Virginia and Bethesda, Maryland often share common principles beyond angular aesthetics, employing eco-friendly materials and integrating the structures to their natural surroundings, rather than the traditional lot-leveling norms.

To learn more about modern and contemporary properties, call District Partners at Compass, 202-798-3600.


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Listing information last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 12:16am EDT.