“Maurice Fatio Architect New York/ Palm Beach” 1992 FATIO, Alexandra The Cary Collection

FATIO, Alexandra

[277] pp.

First Edition

1992

11″ x 9.75″

Fine

In addition to a successful career in New York, Fatio is the only rival to Addison Mizner for the title of THE Palm Beach Architect of the 20th century. Many of his grand residences still stand Il Palmetto, Casa Eleda, Villa Today, Casa della Porta, etc. The Editor/Publisher created this book on her father around letters he wrote from New York and Palm Beach to his parents in Switzerland. Profusely illustrated in black-and-white photos and sketches from the architect’s many projects, including 143 full page plates. 277+ pages w/ complete list of commissions.

Maurice Fatio (1897–1943) was a Swiss-born American architect.

Maurice Fatio was born in Geneva, Switzerland on March 18, 1897.

He graduated from the Polytechnical School at the University of Zurich and studied under Swiss architect Karl Moser.

In 1920, he came to New York City, where he first worked for society architect Harrie T. Lindeberg. He soon branched out on his own in partnership with William A. Treanor who was twenty years his senior. In May 1923, the 26-year-old Fatio was voted the most popular architect in New York.

He moved to Palm Beach, Florida in 1925 and opened an office there In Palm Beach, he began designing harmonious Mediterranean-style houses and eventually branched out into everything from Georgian to contemporary. In 1929, he married Eleanor Chase (1901-1944), a prominent Palm Beach society girl and novelist, in New York City.

Fatio had two children with Chase, Alexandra (1932-2015) and Maurice Pierre “Petey”(1930-1961). Maurice Fatio died in 1943 of lung cancer. His wife died the next year.

James H. Clark bought the 40,000 square foot Il Palmetto in 1999. In December 2010 Casa Alva sold for $27.5 M.