NCModernist is gearing up to celebrate its 18th anniversary in grand style with the annual Moon Over Modernism fundraiser and cocktail party on Saturday, October 11 at the stunning Holton House in North Raleigh. This newly completed 17,000-square-foot Modernist residence, situated on 110 acres of pristine land, provides a breathtaking backdrop for an evening dedicated to architecture, preservation, and community.
Guests will have the rare opportunity to step inside a private home that embodies the very essence of Modernist design while enjoying a night of live jazz, exceptional food and drinks, and a chance to support NCModernist’s mission. The Raleigh-based nonprofit is dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting residential Modernist architecture across North Carolina.
The state holds one of the country’s largest concentrations of Modernist houses, thanks to visionaries like Henry Kamphoefner, the founding dean of the School of Design at North Carolina State University (now the College of Design). Since its founding in 1948, the school has shaped generations of architects who went on to design Modernist homes both locally and nationwide.
Designed by Raleigh architect Joe Trojanowski, the Holton House is a masterpiece of expressive design, blending stucco, stone, and metal with expansive glass walls that blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. Among its many striking features are a waterfall and koi pond at the entrance, a pool and dining terrace, elevated rear terrace, and multiple private outdoor areas. Owners Brad and Ekaterina Holton graciously agreed to open their home for this year’s celebration, giving guests a firsthand look at a truly exceptional piece of architecture.
Trojanowski, who grew up in Chicago Heights, Illinois, studied architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before gaining experience at firms including Bittner and DeTella, Space Design Group, LR Development Company, and Marvin Herman & Associates. In 2006, he launched his own firm and relocated to Raleigh in 2020. The Holton House was a collaboration between Trojanowski and co-owner Ekaterina Holton, and was brought to life by St. Clair Construction Group.
“It’s not every day you are welcomed into a new home as special as the Holton House, and we’re so grateful to Brad and Ekaterina Holton for opening their doors for NCModernist,” says George Smart, founder and executive director of NCModernist and its sister organization, USModernist.
“This benefit cocktail party is more than just a celebration of NCModernist’s 18 years as a historic preservation nonprofit; it’s a chance to see firsthand how our mission of documenting, preserving, and promoting these living works of art comes to life. Your support helps us ensure North Carolina’s legacy of Modernist houses continues to thrive.”
The evening’s festivities will take place from 7–9 p.m., with music by Peter Lamb and the Wolves, hors d’oeuvres, and wine and bar service provided by Phillip Zucchino of The Wine Feed. Tickets are $149 for the general public and $129 for NCModernist members, with limited space available and advance purchase strongly recommended. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress and secure their tickets at ncmodernist.org/moon.
