Villa Kunterbunt in the Art Déco District South Beach

When it comes to Art Deco design, most people immediately think of the architecturally special, beautiful , colorful hotels in Miami Beach, which are lined up like pearls on a necklace, especially on Ocean Drive – the promenade of Miami Beach. However, this is a movement in design history that originated in Europe between 1920 and 1940.

The Art Deco District forms the center of South Beach and is the trademark of Miami Beach. The tropical-American look of the mostly hotel façades is inextricably linked to the lifestyle of Miami South Beach. The rich and famous flock here.

The fashion agencies make the beach even more beautiful with their models and it really is almost exclusively about “seeing and being seen”. As a vacationer, you can feel like you belong for a few hours or days. However, the Art Deco architecture is truly unique and unparalleled in the Historic District.

The role model comes from New Zealand

The Art Deco district of Miami Beach is the largest contiguous area of houses in this architectural style after Napier in New Zealand. Most of the buildings date from the 1930s and 1940s. They were built on the southern tip of Miami Beach and were due to be demolished in the meantime.

At that time, the run-down Art Deco district was populated by vagrants and drug addicts. However, protests by citizens’ initiatives prevented this and the Art Déco buildings were restored.

These unique architectural 960 historic gems are located in a zone of approximately 2.5 km², which was established by the Miami Design Preservation League and other preservationists and is now one of the largest historic preservation areas in the USA. The Art Déco District was declared a U.S. historic district in 1979 as the Miami Beach Architectural District.

How to experience the Art Deco District properly

The Art Déco District in Miami Beach is not only a popular photo motif, but also a living open-air museum. Over 800 listed buildings – many of them along Ocean DriveCollins Avenue and Washington Avenue – tell the story of an architectural awakening after the hurricane of 1926.

What many people don’t know: The local Art Deco style in Miami is very different from the classic European style. Here, rounded corners, pastel shades, symmetry and neon light meet tropical motifs, flamingos, palm reliefs and porthole windows – a style that experts refer to as “Tropical Deco”.

The best way to explore the district is on foot or by bike in the early morning, when the sun brings out the play of colors on the facades. Guided tours through the Art Deco Welcome Center at 1000 Ocean Drive offer exciting insights into the history, details and stories behind the iconic buildings.

Numerous hotels, such as the Colony Hotel or the Cardozo, are not only architectural gems, but also house small galleries, cafés and live music evenings. The Art Deco Weekend also takes place here in January – with vintage cars, fashion shows, open-air concerts and guided tours.