Maurice Fatio was a society architect in New York and Palm Beach. Born in Geneva, Switzerland in 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

Harrie T. Lindeberg

Harrie Thomas Lindeberg was an American architect, best known for designing country houses in the United States. Among academic eclectic architects Lindeberg found a niche as "the American Lutyens" by working in a variety of popular styles while imparting a crisp modern stamp to his work...

. He soon branched out on his own in partnership with William A. Treanor who was twenty years his senior. In May 1923 the twenty-six year old Fatio was voted the most popular architect in New York.

Fatio moved to Palm Beach 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 Fatio married Eleanor Chase, a prominent Palm Beach society girl and novelist, in New York City. Chase had earlier been the girl friend of Wilson Mizner

Wilson Mizner

Wilson Mizner was an American playwright, raconteur, and entrepreneur. His best-known plays are The Deep Purple, produced in 1910, and The Greyhound, produced in 1912...

.

Fatio's houses were so well known during his lifetime that composer-lyricist Cole Porter was inspired to write brightly in the late 1930s: I want to live on Maurice Fatio's patio... Maurice Fatio died young in his forties of cancer. His wife, Eleanor (1901–1944), died the next year.

James H. Clark

James H. Clark

James H. Clark is an American entrepreneur and computer scientist. He founded several notable Silicon Valley technology companies, including Silicon Graphics, Inc., Netscape Communications Corporation, myCFO and Healtheon...

 bought the 40,000 square foot Il Palmetto in 1999. In December 2010 Casa Alva sold for $27.5 M. That is a record as the second most expensive property that ever sold in Palm Beach County.

Notable buildings

• Residence of David Rockefeller. 146 East 65th Street, New York City. 1924.
• Buenos Recuerdos . Palm Beach. 1927. Henry G. Barkhausen.
• First National Bank of Palm Beach. 1928.
• Casa Della Porta. 195 Via Del Mar, Palm Beach. 1928. Mr. & Mrs. William J. McAneeny.
• Clubhouse - Indian Creek Country Club. Miami Beach. 1929.
• Casa Eleda. South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. 1929. Mortimer L. Schiff
  Mortimer L. Schiff
  Mortimer Loeb Schiff , sometimes Mortimer Leo Schiff, was an American banker and notable early Boy Scouts of America leader. His son John Mortimer Schiff was also involved with the BSA.-Biography:...
  
  .
• Il Palmetto. South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. 1930. Joseph E. Widener
  Joseph E. Widener
  Joseph Early Widener was a wealthy American art collector who was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C...
  
  .
• Eastover
  Eastover (Manalapan, Florida)
  Eastover is a historic site in Manalapan, Florida. It is located at 1100 South Ocean Boulevard. On December 23, 2002, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-Recent:...
  
  . 1100 South Ocean Boulevard, Manalapan, Florida. 1930. Mr. & Mrs. Harold S. Vanderbilt
  Harold Stirling Vanderbilt
  Harold Stirling Vanderbilt was an American railroad executive, a champion yachtsman, a champion bridge player and a member of the Vanderbilt family.-Background:...
  
  . On the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
• Villa Today. Palm Beach. 1932. Mrs. Audrey Berdeau.
• Casa Alva. Manalapan, FL. 1935. Colonel & Mrs. Jacques Balsan
  Consuelo Vanderbilt
  Consuelo Balsan , was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family...
  
  .
• Brazilian Court Hotel
  The Brazilian Court
  The Brazilian Court Hotel & Beach Club is a historic luxury hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, United States which opened on New Year's Day in 1926....
  
  . Palm Beach. 1936. South wing added by Fatio.
• Society of the Four Arts
  Four Arts Gardens
  The Four Arts Gardens, also known as the Four Arts Library, Gardens and Philip Hulitar Sculpture Gardens, are nonprofit botanical gardens located at 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach, Florida...
  
  , Library. Palm Beach. 1936.
• Four Winds. Palm Beach. Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Hutton
  Edward Francis Hutton
  Edward Francis Hutton was an American financier and co-founder of E. F. Hutton & Co....
  
  .
• Manana Point. Palm Beach. Mr. & Mrs Grover Loening
  Grover Loening
  Grover Cleveland Loening was an American aircraft manufacturer.-Biography:Loening was born in Bremen, Germany, while his American-born father was stationed there as U.S. Consul. He graduated from Columbia University in New York City, where he was awarded the first-ever degree in Aeronautical...
  
  .
• Villa Oheka. Palm Beach. Mr. & Mrs. Otto H. Kahn
  Otto Hermann Kahn
  Otto Hermann Kahn was an investment banker, collector, philanthropist, and patron of the arts.-Life and career:He was born on February 21, 1867, and raised in the city of Mannheim, Germany, to Jewish parents...
  
  .
• Alva Base. Fisher Island, Miami Beach. Mr. & Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt
  William Kissam Vanderbilt II
  William Kissam Vanderbilt II was a motor racing enthusiast and yachtsman and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
  
  , Jr.
• Dickinson House
  House at 1240 Cocoanut Road
  The House at 1240 Cocoanut Road is a historic home in Boca Raton, Florida. It is located at 1240 Cocoanut Road. The architect was Maurice Fatio. On August 17, 2001, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-References and external links:* at...
  
  . 1240 Cocoanut Road, Boca Raton. On the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.