Hollin Hills facts for kids
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Hollin Hills Historic District
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Typical house in Hollin Hills neighborhood
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly Beechwood, Elba, Glasgow, Martha's, Paul Springs, Range & Stafford Rds., Mason Hill, Rebecca & Whiteoaks Drs., Alexandria, Virginia |
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| Area | 326 acres (132 ha) |
| Built | 1946, 1956 |
| Built by | Davenport, Robert C. |
| Architect | Goodman, Charles M. |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| MPS | Historic Residential Suburbs of the United States, 1830–1960 |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000807 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 30, 2013 |
Hollin Hills is a neighborhood in Hybla Valley, Virginia, though much of the neighborhood (east of Elba Road and Rebecca Drive) was transferred to the Fort Hunt CDP for census purposes before 2010. The community abuts the Villamay and Mason Hill neighborhoods, just south of Alexandria in the South Alexandria section of Fairfax County, Virginia.
Designed by Charles M. Goodman and developed by Robert C. Davenport in the 1940s, it was one of the Washington, D.C. area's first post-World-War-II developments. The original 225 acres were supplemented with another 101 acres in 1956. Construction of homes in "New Hollin Hills" was completed in 1971. Its roughly 450 houses brought contemporary construction to northern Virginia.
Today, the neighborhood is known primarily for its mid-century modern architecture, which remains very cohesive because of a design review committee that advises on building or modification of existing houses.
Hollin Hills is served by Hollin Meadows Elementary School, which sits adjacent to it. The neighborhood contains two small private swim and tennis clubs, Hollin Hills Pool and Hollin Meadows Swim and Tennis Club.
The Hollin Hills Historic District is a 326 acres (132 ha) residential neighborhood encompassing 468 contributing buildings, five contributing sites, and three contributing structures.
Contents
History
Designed by Charles M. Goodman and developed by Robert Davenport in the 1940s, Hollin Hills brought contemporary construction to northern Virginia. The community was one of the first post-World-War-II developments around Washington, D.C., and it is known primarily for its modern architecture, which remains very cohesive because of a design review committee that advises on building or modification of existing houses.
The name of Hollin Hills was intended as a variation of the 18th-century Hollin Hall Plantation, originally owned by George Mason, one of the founding fathers, known as the “Father of the Bill of Rights.” General Mason named his lands after an English estate of his mother’s family. Some of the Hollin Hall plantation buildings still stand on Sherwood Hall Lane.
While planning the community, architect Goodman and landscape architect Dan Kiley designed each home with lots no smaller than one-third of an acre. During construction, many trees were retained to block sight lines, and houses were built at angles to ensure privacy. The popularity of the homes, which feature huge expanses of glass, established Goodman as a nationally acclaimed guru of modern architecture. Davenport named some streets to complement the community name, while others were named after family members: Martha's Road for his mother and Rebecca Drive for his daughter. Elba Road was named after one of his prize bulls.
Awards
Hollin Hills has won many awards, beginning with the Revere Quality House award from the Southwest Research Institute in 1950 and including two 1982 Test of Time awards from the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, for houses on Stafford Road.
Hollin Hills is on the Fairfax County, Virginia, Inventory of Historic Sites.
Hollin Hills was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register in late June 2013. The Board of the Civic Association of Hollin Hills (CAHH) sought a National Register of Historic Places national historic district designation for the neighborhood, which was granted in 2013.
The Hollin Hills Historic District encompasses 468 contributing buildings, two contributing sites, and three contributing structures.
Notable residents
Over the decades, Hollin Hills has attracted artists, architects, politicians, lawyers, doctors and numerous other individuals typical of the metropolitan DC region. Notable residents include former CBS newsman Eric Sevareid, former U.S. Representative James G. O'Hara (1925–1989), United States Senator Pat Roberts, judge Salvatore R. Martoche, musician Gil Scott-Heron, singer Roberta Flack, architect Michael Sorkin and the production designers for Mad Men, Dan Bishop and Jeremy Conway.
Images for kids
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Neighborhood entrance sign on Sherwood Hall Lane
