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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6501 Bright Mountain Rd, MCLEAN

$29,990,000

6501 Bright Mountain Rd, MCLEAN

6 Beds 11 Baths 21,837 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2186634

LANGLEY FARMS

6431 Georgetown Pike, MCLEAN

$22,500,000

↑ $2,600,000

6431 Georgetown Pike, MCLEAN

10 Beds 14 Baths 22,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2215864

LANGLEY FARMS

612 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

$22,220,000

↑ $6,120,000

612 Rivercrest Dr, MCLEAN

8 Beds 10.5 Baths 16,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2201384

RIVER OAKS

7209 Arrowood Rd, BETHESDA

$18,750,000

7209 Arrowood Rd, BETHESDA

9 Beds 11.5 Baths 26,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # MDMC2164412

BURNING TREE

1175 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

$16,900,000

↓ $600,000

1175 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

4 Beds 4 Baths 0 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2215866

CHAIN BRIDGE

1159 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

$15,900,000

1159 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

4 Beds 5 Baths 5,127 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2185504

CHAIN BRIDGE

681 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

$15,000,000

681 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

11 Beds 12.5 Baths 18,166 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2175932

CHAIN BRIDGE

New
1020 Langley Hill Dr, MCLEAN

$14,999,995

1020 Langley Hill Dr, MCLEAN

7 Beds 9.5 Baths 17,135 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2218976

LANGLEY HILL

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

2109 Dunmore Ln Nw, WASHINGTON

$11,500,000

2109 Dunmore Ln Nw, WASHINGTON

5 Beds 6.5 Baths 10,635 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2169852

PHILLIPS PARK

3131 Chain Bridge Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

$9,495,000

3131 Chain Bridge Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

6 Beds 8 Baths 12,200 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2157708

KENT

2001 Foxhall Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

$8,500,000

2001 Foxhall Rd Nw, WASHINGTON

7 Beds 6.5 Baths 9,522 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2145862

BERKLEY

1039 Aziza Ct, GREAT FALLS

$7,950,000

1039 Aziza Ct, GREAT FALLS

6 Beds 9.5 Baths 13,667 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2218314

PUTNAM FARM ESTATES

2934 Ellicott Ter Nw, WASHINGTON

$6,995,000

2934 Ellicott Ter Nw, WASHINGTON

8 Beds 7.5 Baths 9,539 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2189630

FOREST HILLS

New
9121 Harrington Dr, POTOMAC

$6,900,000

9121 Harrington Dr, POTOMAC

7 Beds 8.5 Baths 12,517 SqFt Residential MLS® # MDMC2167314

BRADLEY FARMS

2800 32nd St Nw, WASHINGTON

$6,900,000

2800 32nd St Nw, WASHINGTON

6 Beds 5.5 Baths 6,411 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2193252

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE HEIGHTS

9341 Cornwell Farm Dr, GREAT FALLS

$6,490,000

9341 Cornwell Farm Dr, GREAT FALLS

4 Beds 4 Baths 5,028 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2185752

CORNWELL FARM

9619 Georgetown Pike, GREAT FALLS

$5,999,900

9619 Georgetown Pike, GREAT FALLS

6 Beds 8.5 Baths 10,884 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2223210

FORESTVILLE

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) 400-3070.


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Listing information last updated on April 21st, 2025 at 4:01pm EDT.