Miami Art Deco Colony Hotel
A glowing example of Miami Art Deco Colony Hotel on Ocean Drive.
The smooth Modernism of the early 20th century meets pastel colours, sleek curves and neon signs the sunny take on Art Deco that gives Miami Beach its distinctive architectural style is the epitome of tropical Americana. A wander among its historic hotels and apartment buildings evokes the early romance of ocean and train travel, when the world was a place full of possibilities.
The breezy glitz of Miami Beach was born in the 1910s. Mangroves were cleared to create a waterfront playground for the wealthy, and Art Deco hotelslured celebrities, the monied, and then tourists.
The Deco movement emerged in the early 20th century, when new technology and luxury were spliced, and sea journeys were the height of chic hence many Deco buildings have porthole windows.
In Miami, Deco design relies on stepped back facadesthat disrupt the flat, harsh Florida light. Cantilevered ‘eyebrows’ jut out over windowsto provide shade, and canopied porches ofer cool places to sit.
The Cardozo Hotel was first to be rescued by the Miami Beach Preservation League when developers loomed in the 1970s. The Art Deco District is now home to some 900 protected buildings.
The Colony Hotel isthe oldest Deco hotel in Miami Beach, est. 1935, and first to incorporate itssign a neon wonder as part of its design. The lobby is a machineage vision in mint green.