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® # VAFX2113294

PARKVIEW HILLS

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

2507 Foxhall Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

$15,999,999

2507 Foxhall Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

9 Beds 11 Baths 14,113 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2101200

BERKLEY

2815 Woodland Dr Nw, WASHINGTON

$13,500,000

2815 Woodland Dr Nw, WASHINGTON

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

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE HEIGHTS

6538 Sothoron Rd, MCLEAN

$10,500,000

6538 Sothoron Rd, MCLEAN

6 Beds 8.5 Baths 10,975 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2154340

SALONA VILLAGE

3131 Chain Bridge Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

$9,995,000

3131 Chain Bridge Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

6 Beds 8 Baths 12,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2090524

KENT

620 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

$9,775,000

620 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

6 Beds 5.5 Baths 12,548 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2137460

RIVER OAKS

7441 Dulany Dr, MCLEAN

$9,500,000

7441 Dulany Dr, MCLEAN

7 Beds 9 Baths 12,354 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2023418

ELMWOOD ESTATES

410 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

$9,200,000

410 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

5 Beds 5.5 Baths 8,367 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAAR2035162

ARLINGWOOD

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

8801 Fernwood Rd, BETHESDA

$7,175,000

8801 Fernwood Rd, BETHESDA

6 Beds 9 Baths 15,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # MDMC2114196

BRADLEY HILLS GROVE

1930 Foxview Cir Nw, WASHINGTON

$6,950,000

↓ $950,000

1930 Foxview Cir Nw, WASHINGTON

6 Beds 8.5 Baths 9,575 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2094504

BERKLEY

1120 Guilford Ct, MCLEAN

$6,200,000

1120 Guilford Ct, MCLEAN

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

RUCKERS LANGLEY

1138 Basil Rd, MCLEAN

$5,999,990

1138 Basil Rd, MCLEAN

7 Beds 7.5 Baths 11,064 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2145634

DOWNSCREST

5811 Potomac Ave Nw, WASHINGTON

$5,995,000

5811 Potomac Ave Nw, WASHINGTON

5 Beds 6.5 Baths 7,357 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2094812

PALISADES

9113 Redwood Ave, BETHESDA

$5,950,000

9113 Redwood Ave, BETHESDA

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

ARROWOOD

3246 S Street, Nw, WASHINGTON

$5,900,000

3246 S Street, Nw, WASHINGTON

5 Beds 5.5 Baths 5,478 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2105304

GEORGETOWN

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

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 December 6th, 2023 at 5:00am EST.