Iconic Miami: The Art Deco District

Window “eyebrows,” porthole windows and a perfect adherence to the “rule of three.” If this is the baseline of Miami’s art deco style, then the McAlpin is a perfect study. It was designed in 1940 by Lawrence Dixon, one of Miami Beach’s most important and productive architects, and received its poppy pink and turquoise paint trimmings as a result of the district’s great preservation push in the ’80s. Today, the McAlpin is a Hilton Grand Vacation Club, where guests can enjoy a stay in the middle of all the Ocean Drive action just footsteps from the sand.

When you think of Miami Art Deco, The Bass may not immediately come to mind, but this museum is Florida through and through as its facade is cladded with native oolite stone. Completed in 1934 as the Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center, it is not only one of the earliest examples of Art Deco in South Beach, but is also South Florida’s very first public exhibition space. Today, The Bass is one of Miami’s premier contemporary art museums, highlighting local, international and mid-career artists in its galleries and through public art projects. 

If 1930s South Beach is defined by its playful three-story hotels, then its immediate post-war period is best likened to a champagne-filled boom. The crowd became more glamorous and the buildings more grandiose as tropical Art Deco resorts glissed down Collins Ave. These hotels were much taller, with amenities like private beaches and pools, and The Delano, best identified by its crowning four-winged tower, is a perfect model. The hotel also played a pivotal role in ushering the Beach’s next big boom, the ’90s, when designer Phillippe Starcke introduced an Alice in Wonderland goes zen aesthetic, featuring whimsical furniture tucked behind towering columns and curtains in the lobby, and serene white guest rooms with an ocean-view. Unfortunately, the Delano is currently closed for renovations, but if the past is any indicator of the future, its next resurrection is sure to herald another exciting chapter ahead.

Henry Hohauser is indisputably one of South Beach’s most prolific and prominent architects, responsible for some 300 buildings including The Webster, which is now a globally respected, ultra-luxury boutique. Completed in 1939, the building features original terrazzo flooring with fanciful geometric shapes and a pastel exterior that strictly adheres to the rule of thirds. Carved into the building are spirited shapes and floral designs, and a neon marquee helps to lure shoppers in.

Even in 1935, beachgoers needed a place to go when their cheeks had reached peak blush, and theaters like The Colony provided an entertaining respite from the sun. Originally opened as a Paramount Pictures movie house, The Colony Theater currently serves as a performing arts space managed by Miami New Drama. It’s one of many art deco theaters lining Lincoln Road, like the Lincoln Theater which despite being repurposed into an H&M, maintains a stunning marque entryway, a restored scalloped ceiling and more Art Deco gems. And, both are conveniently located just a few blocks away from Time Out Miami.