Miami South Beach made its mark in the architectural world with its innovative Art Deco buildings, many of which were built during the late 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. These were generally low-level properties, built to resist hurricanes and designed to stay naturally ventilated by the breeze from the Atlantic Ocean.

The style of many Miami Beach Art Deco Hotels and South Beach Art Deco Hotels is typified by angular and geometric lines, abstract natural shapes, and tropical designs such as palm trees, flamingos and the like. Stucco, tile and terrazzo were combined with reinforced concrete to create a durable and unique style of architecture.