Educational Media Reviews Online

Reston, Virginia is a community created by architect Robert Simon in 1962. Unlike many examples of experimental design, Reston is still in use, fulfilling Simon’s vision as an alternative to detached, cookie-cutter suburban housing developments segregated from other community amenities by strict zoning laws.

Simon took inspiration from both urban development and Italian hill towns with plazas, creating a community of cluster housing, allowing for more open space and walkable parks. This was a major change from typical suburban development of the time, offering a way of community-oriented living that has proved influential to subsequent developments. Because of Reston, we see more open spaces, street life, and mixed-use zoning in neighborhoods across the country. Furthermore, Reston was the first community in Virginia to be open and affordable to everyone, regardless of race and socioeconomic background.

The first portion of the film, Another Way of Living, gives a history of the community and the roadblocks Simon faced in its development, most notably the hesitance of banks to fund construction. The community has grown over the decades, with a Town Center dedicated in 1990. The second half offers more interviews with the residents of Reston. They share their experiences living there and their activism to make sure the community continues to offer the same benefits to the next generation. The film, while slow paced, is technically proficient, and presents an engaging picture of one of the more remarkable communities in the country.