Marion Sims Wyeth (1889-1982)
Title
Marion Sims Wyeth (1889-1982)
Description
Marion Sims Wyeth (1889–1982) was born in New York City and studied at Princeton University and the École des Beaux Arts. In 1919, he founded his architectural firm in Palm Beach with partner Frederic Rhinelander King. Wyeth was among a group of architects considered the “Big Five,” along with John Volk, Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, and Howard Major, who defined Palm Beach style in the early twentieth century. He was commissioned to design over 700 projects in Palm Beach and beyond during his fifty-four-year practice. Wyeth explored many architectural styles that adhered to his belief of creating “quiet, subdued, and rational buildings.”
Creator
Marion Sims Wyeth, architect
Source
Marion Sims Wyeth collection, Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.
Rights
All applicable rights reserved by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. Written permission from the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Archives must be obtained before using an item for publishing or commercial purposes.
Collection Items
Hogarcito (Palm Beach, FL)
Marjorie and E. F. Hutton commissioned Wyeth to build their new home on Golfview Road. Hutton wanted to develop the street further and enlisted Wyeth to create a series of speculative homes located on every other lot. Hogarcito was designed in the…
Tre Fontaine (Palm Beach, FL)
Wyeth was inspired to design his personal Spanish Courtyard residence during a trip to Spain, naming his home Tre Fontaine. True to its name, Wyeth’s home had three low fountains centered on the front door and placed on an east west access through…
La Claridad (Palm Beach, FL)
In 1924, Clarence Geist, who made his fortune in utilities, commissioned Wyeth to build opposite of Hogarcito. The Spanish Baroque Style home is named La Claridad, meaning “clarity” and is the most ornate house on Golfview Road. In 1948, the house…
Bienestar (Palm Beach, FL)
Designed in 1924 for Frederick S. Wheeler, the Chairman of the American Can Company, Bienestar, which means “Wellbeing,” was one of Wyeth’s early Mediterranean Revival style designs. In the 1980s Bienestar was saved from demolition when developer and…
The Rectory and Columbarium, Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church (Palm Beach, FL)
Wyeth made two important contributions to Palm Beach’s oldest church Bethesda-by-the-Sea. He designed a Spanish courtyard house in 1924, which was later sold to the church in 1929 to become the rectory, or home of the priest. The Rectory was…
Persian Village (Coral Gables, FL)
Conceptualized in 1925, developer George Merrick designed small communities, or villages, within Coral Gables in varying architectural styles and influences. Persian Village is one of the unrealized concepts. Wyeth also designed the Dutch South…
The Wyeth Building, Phipps Plaza (Palm Beach, FL)
Designed in 1925, the Wyeth Building was mixed use. The Charles G.V. Clark Antiques and decorating business was located on the first floor. The second floor was Wyeth’s architectural office and draughting room. The third floor had a small apartment…
Hammond Residence (Bordentown, NJ)
The estate was originally built in 1850 and was known as Point Breeze or Bonaparte Park (Napolean Bonaparte’s brother Count de Survilliers once owned it). Harris Hammon, son of the American Mining Engineer John Hays Hammond, commissioned Wyeth & King…
Dutch South African Village (Coral Gables, FL)
Wyeth designed one of the themed villages in George Merrick’s development of Coral Gables. Located on Lejeune Road, the Dutch South African Village is inspired by the work of Dutch Settlers in South Africa during the 17th century. Wyeth designed five…