Washington Metro’s Mid-Century Modern and Contemporary Homes

Those interested in mid-century modern or contemporary homes for sale in the Washington DC Metro area should take heart—there are more of these properties than one might expect. In addition to the many standalone examples, aficionados of the style will find entire subdivisions and neighborhoods created through a movement that generally spanned the early 1940s to late 1960s—although some extend that timeline to include the 1930s and 1970s.

Mid-Century Modern Homes for Sale in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

Contemporary Collection by Andre Perez and Compass

Sort by:
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

$21,000,000

1175 Crest Ln, MCLEAN

4 Beds 4 Baths 0 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2028910

LANGLEY OAKS

681 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

$13,500,000

681 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

11 Beds 12.5 Baths 18,166 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2113558

NONE AVAILABLE

8801 Fernwood Rd, BETHESDA

$11,500,000

↓ $1,000,000

8801 Fernwood Rd, BETHESDA

6 Beds 9 Baths 15,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # MDMC2071420

BRADLEY HILLS GROVE

5610 Wisconsin Ave #ph-20b, CHEVY CHASE

$10,500,000

5610 Wisconsin Ave #ph-20b, CHEVY CHASE

4 Beds 7.5 Baths 9,129 SqFt Residential MLS® # MDMC2088384

SOMERSET HOUSE CONDOS

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

4640 Cathedral Ave Nw, WASHINGTON

$9,750,000

4640 Cathedral Ave Nw, WASHINGTON

6 Beds 8 Baths 8,556 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2091920

WESLEY HEIGHTS

7441 Dulany Dr, MCLEAN

$9,500,000

7441 Dulany Dr, MCLEAN

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

ELMWOOD ESTATES

1122 Litton, MCLEAN

$9,250,000

1122 Litton, MCLEAN

7 Beds 10.5 Baths 11,817 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2052492

DOWNSCREST

1072 Thomas Jefferson St Nw, WASHINGTON

$7,950,000

↑ $450,000

1072 Thomas Jefferson St Nw, WASHINGTON

0 Beds 0 Baths 7,997 SqFt Multi-Family MLS® # DCDC2043752

GEORGETOWN

1930 Foxview Cir Nw, WASHINGTON

$7,900,000

1930 Foxview Cir Nw, WASHINGTON

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

BERKLEY

1332 Mccay Ln, MCLEAN

$7,350,000

↓ $445,000

1332 Mccay Ln, MCLEAN

6 Beds 8.5 Baths 13,722 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2064718

NONE AVAILABLE

601 Wharf St Sw #1001, WASHINGTON

$7,000,000

601 Wharf St Sw #1001, WASHINGTON

3 Beds 4.5 Baths 3,660 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2089602

SOUTHWEST WATERFRONT

1111 19th St N #2901, ARLINGTON

$6,950,000

↓ $450,000

1111 19th St N #2901, ARLINGTON

3 Beds 4 Baths 4,715 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAAR2027348

ROSSLYN

3255 Prospect St Nw #3, WASHINGTON

$6,900,000

3255 Prospect St Nw #3, WASHINGTON

3 Beds 3.5 Baths 3,980 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2094586

GEORGETOWN

1111 24th St Nw #93, WASHINGTON

$6,250,000

1111 24th St Nw #93, WASHINGTON

3 Beds 3.5 Baths 3,051 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2086670

WEST END

1138 Basil Rd, MCLEAN

$6,000,000

1138 Basil Rd, MCLEAN

7 Beds 7.5 Baths 10,738 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2112634

DOWNSCREST

10300 Conejo Ln, OAKTON

$5,999,900

10300 Conejo Ln, OAKTON

6 Beds 7.5 Baths 13,239 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2118022

HIDDEN ESTATES

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

925 H St Nw #901/902, WASHINGTON

$5,995,000

925 H St Nw #901/902, WASHINGTON

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,816 SqFt Residential MLS® # DCDC2093800

PENN QUARTER

501 Haven Ln, GREAT FALLS

$5,995,000

501 Haven Ln, GREAT FALLS

5 Beds 6.5 Baths 11,752 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2105436

SQUIRES HAVEN

9113 Redwood Ave, BETHESDA

$5,950,000

9113 Redwood Ave, BETHESDA

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

ARROWOOD

1157 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

$5,900,000

1157 Chain Bridge Rd, MCLEAN

4 Beds 4.5 Baths 5,014 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2126860

LANGLEY FARMS

7012 Holyrood Drive, MCLEAN

$5,500,000

7012 Holyrood Drive, MCLEAN

7 Beds 8 Baths 8,700 SqFt Residential MLS® # VAFX2000831

COUNTRYSIDE

Scroll down to see the all the mid-century literature and content.

Mid-century modern and contemporary architecture (modern and contemporary often used synonymously these days) stemmed from the earlier modern movement and often espoused principles of design that merged architecture itself with its natural surroundings. The pioneering work of modernists such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Philip Johnson and Ludwig Miles Van Der Rohe led directly to those whose main bodies of work would be decades later.

In the DC area, certain architects come up time and again when looking at major mid-century modern accomplishments. Often, these individuals partnered with each other in prolific firms of the day. But Charles Goodman is one whose name is most frequently mentioned due to his broad portfolio of work, including custom-designed houses, commercial buildings and entire avant-garde subdivisions.

Perhaps the most famous of Goodman’s projects is Hollin Hills, a suburb of 450 iconic homes with flat roofs, linear designs and expansive walls of glass set into the rolling woodsy terrain of the Hybla Valley portion of Alexandria, south of Old Town. Like the vast majority of modernist communities of this era, Hollin Hills is now a national historic district. The homes are positioned at different angles on ungraded lots, allowing unencumbered views of nature. Residents also enjoy a clubhouse, pool and swim team.

Among Goodman’s many other works in the region are the Hammond Hill subdivision of 20 homes in Wheaton, Maryland; the High Point modernist duplexes in Arlington’s Virginia Heights, and the Hickory Cluster section of townhomes in Fairfax County’s Reston—a “New Town” community developed by Robert Simon beginning in 1964.

Reston is notable for its forward-thinking concepts and mid-century homes, including the Waterview Townhomes near Lake Anne. These were the work of Chloetheil Woodard Smith—another name that comes up often in architectural circles of the day. Smith is widely regarded as the era’s most notable female architect and was also a major urban planner.

Smith headed a large architectural firm that at various junctures included such well-known partners as Arthur Keyes, F. Donald Lethbridge and Nicholas Satterlee. One of the firm’s largest projects involved the government-sponsored renewal of DC’s Southwest quadrant in the 1950s and 1960s. This is an area that has evolved greatly over the District’s long history and continues to transition today with the massive current Southwest Waterfront development.

Smith’s Capitol Park and Harbour Square developments in the area were large-scale combinations of apartments, condos and townhouses for sale, with contemporary design work such as staggered bays and balconies giving a honeycomb impression.

Goodman was also active in the Southwest transition, contributing the River Park Mutual Homes cooperative in the 1960s. Here, two high-rises were connected by a highly unusual cluster of barrel-roof townhomes. With shiny aluminum trim and lots of windows, the overall space-age look was quite different from Goodman’s usual low-slung houses.

While the District itself isn’t known for its large-scale mid-century modern subdivisions of single-family homes, there are quite a number of individual examples, including custom-designed houses for Washington’s society denizens of the day. Goodman was also responsible for a five-block section of modernist homes in what is now the Takoma Park Historic District at the DC/Maryland border.

Fairfax County is home to a number of mid-century neighborhoods, including Lake Barcroft in the southeastern part of the county not far from Falls Church. The centerpiece is the lake itself with its beaches and boating, with upscale homes for sale all around. And while the community isn’t exclusively comprised of modernist and contemporary structures, you’ll find a significant number of flat roofs, jutting overhangs, cubist concepts and huge windows complementing the designs.

Wessynton in Fairfax County near Mount Vernon, is a community of 156 homes on 65 acres of land that was once part of the original Washington family land grant. Built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, there are five models that reflect the evolution of contemporary architecture into other norms. Residents enjoy, a community pool, clubhouse, tennis, 20 acres of forest and a boat dock on Little Hunting Creek.

Pine Spring is yet another modernist community in Fairfax County with 121 single-family homes built in 55 acres of land in 1952. The architects were the aforementioned Keyes, Smith, Satterlee & Lethbridge, and the development won numerous awards, as well as write-ups in such publications as Time Magazine and the Saturday Evening Post.

Additionally, Satterlee and Lethbridge created a notable mid-century contemporary subdivision in Falls Church known as Holmes Run Acres (“The Acres” to locals). Built during the early 1950s, there are approximately 350 post-and-beam homes here in both single and bi-level models. The community also boasts three swimming pools, a rec center, nature center, wooded areas and hiking trails.

Maryland’s Montgomery County is rife with modern and contemporary homes for sale. Goodman designed Hammond Wood (near the earlier mentioned Hammond Hill neighborhood) between 1949 and 1951, and Rock Creek Woods nearly a decade later. You’ll find classic Goodman themes on display in these historic districts, including low roofs, bold angles and large windows placed side-by-side.

One of the largest collections of mid-century homes is Carderock Springs in the Bethesda area, where builder and community planner Edmund Bennett teamed with architect David Condon in the 1960s. There are some 400 structures here in nine original models, blending linear concepts with woodsy surroundings. Bonus points for tennis, swimming and a clubhouse!

Bennett also teamed with Keyes, Condon and Lethbridge on Potomac Overlook—an enclave of 20 luxury modern homes in Bethesda’s Glen Echo Heights subdivision. The same team was responsible for a very large project known as New Mark Commons in Rockville. With over 380 single-family homes and townhouses, this ambitious development came at the tail end of the mid-century movement, built during a lengthy two-decade stretch beginning in 1967.

And while Prince George’s County in Maryland is better known for recent construction, the Moyaone Reserve in Accokeek is a fascinating mid-century exception. It is comprised of 180 modern and contemporary home, most on very large lots of five acres or more. It all began when Henry and Alice Ferguson bought 130 acres of land adjacent the Piscataway National Park in the 1920s, naming their refuge Hard Bargain Farm. So began a long tradition of weekend and vacation getaways for those seeking respite from the city.

The Fergusons continued their land acquisition until it reached 2,800 acres, selling lots to friends and family. And thus was born a community of fascinating and often very individualistic properties, ranging from cubist treehouses to giant post-and-beams. Ravines, a river, an outdoor amphitheater with summer concerts—these are just a few of the attractions in this unique oasis.

There are other subdivisions and mid-century modern homes for sale in the DC Metro area beyond those that are listed here. Suffice to say that Washington isn’t only about row houses and traditional forms of architecture. Call District Partners at Compass to learn more, 202-798-3600.


Can't find what you're looking for in the marketplace?

Perhaps you want to work with us and access our Private Exclusive Listings at Compass.


A Private Exclusive Listing is an off-market home that can be shared by a Compass agent directly with their colleagues and their buyers. Property details aren't disseminated widely and won't appear on public home search websites. Privacy is the Ultimate Commodity.

Request Access Now