A Guide to Miami’s Diverse Architecture

Art Deco buildings line the streets of South Beach in Miami, Florida Image by littlenystock/Shutterstock

Discover the city’s architectural treasures on your next trip with Hilton Grand Vacations

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Miami is a mecca for architecture aficionados, thanks to its eye-catching buildings that range from Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival to Miami Modern. Learn more about these varied architectural styles below, and be sure to check out some of the city’s most iconic buildings on your next visit with Hilton Grand Vacations.

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Art Deco

Popular in the 1920s and 1930s, Art Deco is an architectural style characterized by sleek lines, bold geometric elements (think plenty of triangular and trapezoidal shapes), vibrant colors and an emphasis on vertical design, all of which signify glamour and exuberance. Miami has the highest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world at over 800. Most of these can be found in the South Beach neighborhood, including the fashionable Colony Theatre, which has retained its original Art Deco features — from its stepped parapet and vintage marquee right down to its geometric flooring — after a comprehensive $6.5 million renovation.

The striking Art Deco facade of Colony Theatre Image by Kamira/Shutterstock

Mediterranean Revival

Like Art Deco, this aesthetic boomed during the 1920s and 1930s. As the name suggests, it takes inspiration from the Mediterranean Coast, with motifs drawn from Spanish Renaissance, French Colonial and Beaux-Arts architectural styles. Notable features include arched windows and doors, decorative columns, stucco walls, red-tiled roofs, and wrought iron grilles and railings. Constructed in 1925 as the headquarters for The Miami News, the Freedom Tower is one of the earliest examples of Mediterranean Revival architecture in the city. Inspired by the Giralda (the bell tower of Seville Cathedral) in Spain, it has a richly ornamented façade topped with a striking Baroque-style cupola.

Housed across two historically registered buildings in South Beach, Hilton Grand Vacations at McAlpin – Ocean Plaza is a shining example of Art Deco architecture. For instance, the resort’s stylized façade is adorned with pastel geometric shapes, and its rooftop projections provide vertical emphasis.

The Freedom Tower is a sterling example of Mediterranean Revival architecture Images by Max Herma & Jonathan G/Shutterstock

Miami Modern

Also known as MiMo, this playful architectural style flourished during the post-war construction boom in South Florida. It consists of two distinct strands: Resort MiMo (influenced by Hollywood set designs, including acute angles and trapezoidal forms) and Subtropical Modernism (featuring curved walls, cantilevered structures and breeze blocks). Some buildings also have elaborate wall sculptures rendered in brick, stone and even tile. Many MiMo buildings can be found along Biscayne Boulevard, which has been designated as the MiMo Biscayne Boulevard Historic District (or MiMo on BiBo). Check out the Bacardi Buildings, which were once owned by Bacardi USA and today serve as the headquarters for the National YoungArts Foundation.

Intricate wall sculptures adorn the Bacardi Buildings Images by Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock

For more travel inspiration, check out the Miami feature in the Spring 2021 issue of Club Traveler.

Vintage marquee and box office

Stepped parapet

Geometric ornamentation

Mediterranean-style yellow stucco

Richly ornamented façade

Arched oak doors

Baroque cupola

Cantilevered structure

Stained glass murals

Intricate façade comprising over 28,000 hand-painted tiles