10805 CLERMONT AVE Garrett Park, MD 20896

10805 Clermont Ave. in Garrett Park is a custom 1960 Techbuilt mid-century modern on a private, .49-acre lot. Listed for the first time and being sold by original family, the Gootenberg Residence was designed by architect Carl Koch, who Progressive Architecture magazine called "The Grandfather of Prefab." The model was known as an “EX" design with an elongated kitchen and the addition of a service island, and several other plan modifications. The family is now looking for next stewards to update and preserve this special house. The interior of the house is freshly painted and the hardwood floors on the upper level have been refinished. This is an estate, as-is sale.

The two-level home features a split-foyer plan with two bedrooms and one bathroom upstairs along with a large open living room area. The lower level includes the second full bathroom, third bedroom, the kitchen and dining area plus laundry/utility room. The house does not have central AC.

“The unique post and beam construction affords a truly flexible home for lifetime living,” the original sales brochure says. “Large glass expanses provide bright sunlit rooms and enlarge the already spacious living areas by bringing in the whole outdoors. It has the long, low silhouette of a one-story house but all the advantages of the modern two-level house. The Tech Built house offers a quality, coherence and freshness of design that make it a house for our time."

Koch was a pioneer in modular and pre-fabricated housing, having been involved in the creation of the original Acorn Deck Houses. The Techbuilt pre-fabricated homes embody Koch's groundbreaking design principles and offers a unique living experience that seamlessly blends modern innovation with sophisticated comfort.

A Harvard University Graduate School of Design alumnus, Koch's architectural career was marked by his dedication to creating affordable, efficient, and stylish housing solutions. In the 1950s, he founded Techbuilt Homes, a company that became a leader in pre-fabricated housing, reflecting his commitment to modular design and high-quality construction.

Koch's work is celebrated for integrating modernist principles with practical solutions. His designs often featured clean lines, functional layouts, and an emphasis on maximizing natural light and space. Koch's innovative use of materials and construction techniques set new standards in pre-fabricated housing and influenced the architectural landscape.