In 1951, leading Washington architect Charles M. Goodman, known for the design of the original National Airport and Hollin Hills, designed and built a new, small mid-century home on a half-acre lot in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2015, the existing Goodman designed home (1100 square feet) was saved from certain demolition and was rehabilitated.This house is an example of how to preserve mid-century modern homes through adding spaces that fulfill today’s program requirements, and the needs of today’s modern thinking families. 

Limited hallways, high ceilings, walls of glass, and an open plan design make the 2300 square foot home feel much larger.The existing garage structure was rehabilitated and a second level master bedroom suite was added above. The exterior of the home is made up of brick, cement board siding, stained plywood, and new low-E insulated glass walls that match the spacing of the original Goodman structure.

To avoid creating another overbearing, supersized McMansion, we aimed to preserve the historic elements of a home rather than tear it down. Here, the design team not only saved a great example of mid-century architecture, but by creating a model of how thoughtful design can be both forward-thinking, both the present and past were still referenced.

Status: Built
Location: Alexandria, VA
Architecture by Cook Architecture
Build by Modern Constructs
Photography by John Cole