clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, circa 1955
Public Domain/Gottscho-Schleisner, Inc of Wikipedia Commons

10 of Miami’s most iconic buildings, mapped

Highlighting the best architecture across the Magic City

View as Map
The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, circa 1955
| Public Domain/Gottscho-Schleisner, Inc of Wikipedia Commons

Miami may not have quite the same voluminous history as some other major cities across the country but our rapidly developing cultural melting pot still offers a magnificent list of iconic architecture.

We chose 10 buildings of varying scales from across multiple eras. Single-family properties were not featured prominently (we’ll look into posting an additional map highlighting those) but there was one exception, a dynamic creation by Alfred Browning Parker in Coconut Grove.

Will under-construction developments like Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum or Jean Nouvel’s Monad Terrace eventually find their way to this map? Stay tuned.

If you disagree with our selections, share your thoughts in the comments and feel free to nominate some other structures to factor in for our next update.

To check out all Curbed Miami maps, click here.

Note: The map is arranged from north to south

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The Fontainebleau

Copy Link

While many under 30 associate this iconic South Beach hotel with LIV and/or pool parties, the property has a much richer history than merely housing one of the country’s hottest party scenes.

Opening in 1954 and designed by Morris Lapidus, the massive resort has cracked many architecture lists over the years and appeared in countless films, the latter including the likes of The Bellyboy starring Jerry Lewis and Goldfinger, a Bond classic.

1111 Lincoln

Copy Link

Selling for $283 million over the summer, the iconic garage on the west end of Lincoln Road was designed by Herzog & de Meuron. The open-air structure rises seven stories and includes office space, retail, parking spaces, and a mysterious rooftop penthouse.

A post shared by Kevin Polvent (@kevinpolvent) on

Perez Art Museum Miami

Copy Link

PAMM, with its vertical gardens in downtown Miami, is one of the city’s most unique structures. It was also designed by Herzog and de Meuron and the elevated three-story structure was built to be hurricane-proof. Thankfully, it hasn’t really had the opportunity to prove it.

Fun fact: PAMM was modeled after Stiltsville.

A post shared by Pérez Art Museum Miami (@pamm) on

The Villa, Casa Casuarina

Copy Link

Built in 1930 by architect and author Alden Freeman, the South Beach apartment-turned-hotel went by various names over the years and was inspired by the Alcazar De Colon in Santo Domingo. It originally featured interiors by Addison Mizner.

Gianni Versace played a huge role in reviving the property before eventually parting ways with what many still refer to as the Versace Mansion.

Freedom Tower

Copy Link

Modeled after Giralda Cathedral Bell Tower in Seville, the 1920s historic landmark was designed by George A. Fuller and served as a reception center for Cuban refugees in the 60s and 70s.

Miami Tower

Copy Link

Featured in 2012’s Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places, the vibrant downtown skyscraper is a chameleon, altering colors based on mood. For instance, it lit up in Marlins colors after Ichiro smacked his 3,000th hit.

The 625-foot tower was built in 1987 and was designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.

Venetian Pool

Copy Link

Undergoing a large renovation a few years ago, odds are if you grew up in Miami you’ve visited this funky aquatic paradise. The 820,000-gallon pool opened in 1923 and was constructed from a coral rock quarry.

via City of Coral Gables

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Copy Link

A common movie filming location and wedding venue, James Deering’s former estate on 43 acres — now owned by the county — is a must-visit for out-of-towners and residents alike.

The Biltmore Hotel

Copy Link

This architectural gem in Coral Gables was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman and George Merrick and was initially the tallest building in Florida at 315 feet. Its enormous pool was also once the largest in the world and the property is a common backdrop in the film industry.

Woodsong

Copy Link

Yes, we have veered away from single family offerings but we just couldn’t resist this Alfred Browning Parker masterpiece, which sold for just over $2 million last April.

Woodsong was built by Parker for himself in the late 1960s and has been tastefully updated over the years. It features multiple pavilions connected by a winding pool, koi ponds, and a waterfall. There is nothing like it.

The Fontainebleau

While many under 30 associate this iconic South Beach hotel with LIV and/or pool parties, the property has a much richer history than merely housing one of the country’s hottest party scenes.

Opening in 1954 and designed by Morris Lapidus, the massive resort has cracked many architecture lists over the years and appeared in countless films, the latter including the likes of The Bellyboy starring Jerry Lewis and Goldfinger, a Bond classic.

1111 Lincoln

Selling for $283 million over the summer, the iconic garage on the west end of Lincoln Road was designed by Herzog & de Meuron. The open-air structure rises seven stories and includes office space, retail, parking spaces, and a mysterious rooftop penthouse.

A post shared by Kevin Polvent (@kevinpolvent) on

Perez Art Museum Miami

PAMM, with its vertical gardens in downtown Miami, is one of the city’s most unique structures. It was also designed by Herzog and de Meuron and the elevated three-story structure was built to be hurricane-proof. Thankfully, it hasn’t really had the opportunity to prove it.

Fun fact: PAMM was modeled after Stiltsville.

A post shared by Pérez Art Museum Miami (@pamm) on

The Villa, Casa Casuarina

Built in 1930 by architect and author Alden Freeman, the South Beach apartment-turned-hotel went by various names over the years and was inspired by the Alcazar De Colon in Santo Domingo. It originally featured interiors by Addison Mizner.

Gianni Versace played a huge role in reviving the property before eventually parting ways with what many still refer to as the Versace Mansion.

Freedom Tower

Modeled after Giralda Cathedral Bell Tower in Seville, the 1920s historic landmark was designed by George A. Fuller and served as a reception center for Cuban refugees in the 60s and 70s.

Miami Tower

Featured in 2012’s Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places, the vibrant downtown skyscraper is a chameleon, altering colors based on mood. For instance, it lit up in Marlins colors after Ichiro smacked his 3,000th hit.

The 625-foot tower was built in 1987 and was designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.

Venetian Pool

Undergoing a large renovation a few years ago, odds are if you grew up in Miami you’ve visited this funky aquatic paradise. The 820,000-gallon pool opened in 1923 and was constructed from a coral rock quarry.

via City of Coral Gables

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

A common movie filming location and wedding venue, James Deering’s former estate on 43 acres — now owned by the county — is a must-visit for out-of-towners and residents alike.

The Biltmore Hotel

This architectural gem in Coral Gables was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman and George Merrick and was initially the tallest building in Florida at 315 feet. Its enormous pool was also once the largest in the world and the property is a common backdrop in the film industry.

Woodsong

Yes, we have veered away from single family offerings but we just couldn’t resist this Alfred Browning Parker masterpiece, which sold for just over $2 million last April.

Woodsong was built by Parker for himself in the late 1960s and has been tastefully updated over the years. It features multiple pavilions connected by a winding pool, koi ponds, and a waterfall. There is nothing like it.