MEDIA KIT
LIVING MODERN - BUILDING COMMUNITY
A Three-Day Symposium on the Life and Architecture of Charles M. Goodman
September 13-15, 2024 - Alexandria, VA
Presented by The Friends of Hollin Hills
A Three-Day Symposium on the Life and Architecture of Charles M. Goodman
September 13-15, 2024 - Alexandria, VA
Presented by The Friends of Hollin Hills
Charles Morton Goodman (1906-1992) was one of the most inventive and influential American architects of the 20th Century. An idealist who believed that architecture could change people’s lives, Goodman created whole communities of ultra-modern homes that were designed to connect people with nature and each other, foster a culture of open-mindedness, and support what he called “the flowering of the individual.” He was a tireless innovator as well, developing modular systems of construction to make modern architecture affordable to everyone, not just the wealthy. And he was an imaginative artist, designing avant-garde homes like the cutting-edge, all-aluminum houses he developed for the Aluminum Company of America or Alcoa.
Tens of thousands of Goodman-designed houses were built across the country, and his impact “can scarcely be measured,” as Richard Guy Wilson wrote in The Making of Virginia Architecture. “His designs formed the basis of the generic Modern American house and school, widely imitated in every part of the country. The result was a body of architecture of great distinction that captured Americans' imagination for many years.”
Goodman’s visionary life and work will be the subject of a three-day symposium in locations across the DMV, from September 13-15, 2024. Featuring panels, discussions and tours, the Symposium will explore Goodman's whole-community design, his emphasis on siting and creating livable family homes, and his impact beyond the design of free-standing homes. It will examine Goodman’s legacy in the context of the larger modernist movement, discuss his techniques and innovations, and look at the preservation and livability of Goodman homes.
Tens of thousands of Goodman-designed houses were built across the country, and his impact “can scarcely be measured,” as Richard Guy Wilson wrote in The Making of Virginia Architecture. “His designs formed the basis of the generic Modern American house and school, widely imitated in every part of the country. The result was a body of architecture of great distinction that captured Americans' imagination for many years.”
Goodman’s visionary life and work will be the subject of a three-day symposium in locations across the DMV, from September 13-15, 2024. Featuring panels, discussions and tours, the Symposium will explore Goodman's whole-community design, his emphasis on siting and creating livable family homes, and his impact beyond the design of free-standing homes. It will examine Goodman’s legacy in the context of the larger modernist movement, discuss his techniques and innovations, and look at the preservation and livability of Goodman homes.
The Symposium will feature:
- an opening panel on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Goodman-designed Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington;
- an all-day series of lectures and breakout sessions on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, with an evening reception for VIP ticket-holders at the Goodman-designed Sevareid House in Alexandria, VA;
- and self-guided tours of Goodman-designed neighborhoods throughout the DMV on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Mila Antova, PLA, ASLA, Principal at Moody Graham
- Janet Bloomberg, FAIA, Principal at KUBE Architecture
- John A. Burns, FAIA, FAPT, Member, Fairfax County Architectural Review Board
- *Dennis Carmichael, FASLA, LEED AP, former principal, EDAW
- John Carter, FAIA, retired planner Montgomery County, MD, and current Fairfax County Planning Commissioner
- Michael Cook, AIA, Cook Architecture
- Robert Fina, Fina Construction
- Allison Heck, Hollin Hills
- Julia Heine, Principal at McInturff Architects (retd.)
- Brad Hemp, Highland Hills
- Gregory K. Hunt, FAIA, Architect, Dean & Professor of Architecture (retd.)
- *Joseph Dye Lahendro, FAIA, Historic Preservation Architect (retd.), University of Virginia
- Janet Lewis, Owner, Sevareid House
- Mark McInturff, FAIA, Founder McInturff Architects
- Mary Means, author and retired owner, Mary Means + Associates
- Michael L. Poss, Hickory Cluster
- Jennifer Reut, author and editor of Landscape Architecture Magazine
- Michael Shapiro, Realtor, Modern Capital DC
- *Richard Guy Wilson, Commonwealth Professor Emeritus, Architectural History, University of Virginia
- Gwen Wright, past Director of the Montgomery County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Photos for media use:
- Media kit photos - https://www.friendsofhollinhills.org/media-kit-photos.html
Useful links include:
- Friends of Hollin Hills - https://www.friendsofhollinhills.org/
- Background on Goodman and his portfolio - https://www.montgomeryplanning.org/historic/montgomery_modern//documents/Part2Goodman.pdf
- Goodman-designed Sevareid House - https://www.sevareidhouseconcerts.com/
The Goodman Symposium is organized by Friends of Hollin Hills, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, VA, which works to preserve the historical integrity of the Goodman-designed community of Hollin Hills, a prominent mid-century modern community listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Our programs and events are designed to inspire involvement and foster a deeper understanding of our mid-century modern roots.
For more program information, visit https://www.friendsofhollinhills.org/events.html or contact Stephen Brookes at [email protected].
