Charles M. Goodman
Encyclopedia
Charles M. Goodman was an American
architect
who made a name for his modern designs in suburban Washington, D.C.
after World War II
. While his work has a regional feel, he ignored the colonial revival look so popular in Virginia
. Goodman was quoted in the 1968 survey book Architecture in Virginia as saying that he aimed to "get away from straight historical reproduction."
Goodman, who designed the original National Airport outside of Washington, D.C.
and served as main architect of the Hollin Hills
neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia
, attended the Illinois Institute of Technology
. He came to D.C. in 1934 to work as the designing architect in the Public Buildings Administration. He later served as head architect at the United States Treasury Department and the Air Transport Command. After World War II he worked closely with Robert C. Davenport designing and site planning
most of the Hollin Hills, where his firm, Charles M. Goodman Associates, designed over 14 models of house.
Other projects included the 1964 Unitarian Church in Arlington, Virginia at 4444 Arlington Blvd. His residence, Goodman House, was built in 1954 at 514 Quaker Lane in Alexandria
. In Reston
, he designed a "cluster" of townhouses in the woods above Lake Anne known as Hickory Cluster. In the Southwest Waterfront Community of Washington, D.C. and just north of Fort McNair between N and O Streets and Delaware Avenue and 4th Street, SW, Goodman designed the glass and aluminum clad River Park Cooperative, which consists of two conjoined high-rise buildings and several clusters of flat and barrel-roof top townhouses. Reynolds Aluminum sponsored the development of River Park which explains the prominent use of aluminum in both its design and structure.
His 1949-51, development at Silver Spring, Maryland
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2004, as the Hammond Wood Historic District
. His 1951, development at Takoma Park, Maryland
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2004, as the Takoma Avenue Historic District
. His 1958-61, development at Silver Spring, Maryland
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, and is known as the Rock Creek Woods Historic District
. In 1957 he designed the Alcoa Care-free Home
at Brighton, New York
added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who made a name for his modern designs in suburban Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While his work has a regional feel, he ignored the colonial revival look so popular in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Goodman was quoted in the 1968 survey book Architecture in Virginia as saying that he aimed to "get away from straight historical reproduction."
Goodman, who designed the original National Airport outside of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and served as main architect of the Hollin Hills
Hollin Hills
Hollin Hills is a neighborhood of approximately 450 houses conceived and built by the visionary builder Robert C. Davenport, and designed by D.C.-based architect Charles M...
neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, attended the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
. He came to D.C. in 1934 to work as the designing architect in the Public Buildings Administration. He later served as head architect at the United States Treasury Department and the Air Transport Command. After World War II he worked closely with Robert C. Davenport designing and site planning
Site planning
Site planning in landscape architecture and architecture refers to the organizational stage of the landscape design process. It involves the organization of land use zoning, access, circulation, privacy, security, shelter, land drainage, and other factors...
most of the Hollin Hills, where his firm, Charles M. Goodman Associates, designed over 14 models of house.
Other projects included the 1964 Unitarian Church in Arlington, Virginia at 4444 Arlington Blvd. His residence, Goodman House, was built in 1954 at 514 Quaker Lane in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. In Reston
Reston, Virginia
Reston is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The population was 58,404, at the 2010 Census and 56,407 at the 2000 census...
, he designed a "cluster" of townhouses in the woods above Lake Anne known as Hickory Cluster. In the Southwest Waterfront Community of Washington, D.C. and just north of Fort McNair between N and O Streets and Delaware Avenue and 4th Street, SW, Goodman designed the glass and aluminum clad River Park Cooperative, which consists of two conjoined high-rise buildings and several clusters of flat and barrel-roof top townhouses. Reynolds Aluminum sponsored the development of River Park which explains the prominent use of aluminum in both its design and structure.
His 1949-51, development at Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2004, as the Hammond Wood Historic District
Hammond Wood Historic District
The Hammond Wood Historic District is a national historic district located at Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland. It is a suburban development dating to 1949-51, consisting of 58 Contemporary single-family houses nestled in a tract of heavily wooded, rolling land...
. His 1951, development at Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2004, as the Takoma Avenue Historic District
Takoma Avenue Historic District
The Takoma Avenue Historic District is a national historic district located at Takoma Park, Montgomery County, Maryland. All five houses were constructed in 1951, are identical in their layout and construction, and were designed by Charles M. Goodman. In Goodman's parlance, the house was titled...
. His 1958-61, development at Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and is known as the Rock Creek Woods Historic District
Rock Creek Woods Historic District
The Rock Creek Woods Historic District is a national historic district located at Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland. It is a suburban development consisting of 74 Contemporary houses, is nestled in a wooded valley between two creeks...
. In 1957 he designed the Alcoa Care-free Home
Alcoa Care-free Home
Alcoa Care-free Home is a historic home located at Brighton in Monroe County, New York. It was designed by Charles M. Goodman and is one of 24 Alcoa houses listed in their sales brochure of 1957 that were built for a demonstration project and the only one located New York State. It is a one...
at Brighton, New York
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
External links
- Reston info link
- Hollin Hills Neighborhood site with National Register Info
- Houston House Apartments, Houston, 1966
- Heart of Glass article from Washington, DC City Paper 2003
- River Park Info
- Photos of River Park
- Article from UK based Gooding Aluminium, October 2009
- "Part modern, part farmhouse, Alexandria home is testament to architect Goodman," by Nancy McKeon, The Washington Post, February 18, 2011