Where the Past Still Feels Like the Future
Some designs never lose their edge. Design Icons celebrates the bold architecture and interiors of the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s—from restored roadside motels and Mid-Century Modern landmarks to Brutalist experiments and wonderfully optimistic 1970s interiors. Think sculptural concrete, sunken lounges, geometric forms, space-age curves and unapologetic colour. These are hotels that preserve, restore or reinvent the design spirit of an era when the future still looked exciting.
La Vista Motel, Denver, Colorado, USA A landmark 1956 motor lodge restored with neon, vintage finds, and a basement straight out of another era Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A genuine 1956 East Colfax motor lodge, restored by Sopher Sparn Architects with its original footprint, exterior lines, materials, and architectural character intact. ● Xan…
read moreDelano Miami Beach | Florida, USA An Art Deco Icon Reimagined for a New Generation of South Beach Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Elastic Architects carefully balance the Delano's celebrated Philippe Starck legacy with the elegance of its original 1947 Art Deco architecture. ● The restoration revives one of Miami Beach's defining hotels while…
read morePerroquet Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Mid-Century Florida Reimagined with European Precision Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A beautifully restored 1950s motel transformed by Belgian architect Bernard Dubois into one of Florida's most distinctive boutique hotels. ● Classic American motel architecture reinterpreted through refined European minimalism, lush landscaping, and custom-designed interiors. ● A refreshing reminder…
read moreHotel de Milliano - Breskens, Zeeland, The Netherlands A landmark of Dutch modernism where 1960s architecture, vintage design, and panoramic sea views define one of Zeeland's most distinctive boutique stays. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● One of the Netherlands' finest examples of authentic 1960s modernist hotel architecture, built directly into the dunes overlooking the…
read moreConrad Athens The Ilisian Modernist Icon, Reimagined Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A masterful transformation of the legendary Hilton Athens, preserving one of Greece's greatest examples of post-war modernist architecture while introducing a new era of contemporary luxury. ● Interiors by AvroKO that seamlessly blend mid-century optimism, Greek craftsmanship, and commissioned contemporary art into…
read moreHasenberg Lodge | Walenstadt, Switzerland A private 1970s modernist hideaway suspended between the Walensee and the Churfirsten Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A remarkably intact 1971 modernist interpretation of the Swiss chalet, restored by architect-owners Michelle Corrodi and Roger Zogg without designing away its original character. ● The interiors are a highly personal composition…
read moreMayfair House Hotel & Garden | Coconut Grove, Miami | Florida, USAWhere tropical modernism, artistic eccentricity, and Coconut Grove’s bohemian soul bloom beneath a canopy of palms. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● One of America’s great architectural hotels, originally designed by Kenneth Treister and beautifully revived without sacrificing its extraordinary character. ● A rare…
read moreThe Chancery Rosewood London's Most Ambitious Architectural Reinvention Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A landmark restoration that transforms Eero Saarinen’s former U.S. Embassy into one of London's most significant new hotels. ● A rare collaboration between three design giants: Eero Saarinen, Sir David Chipperfield, and Joseph Dirand. ● A masterclass in adaptive reuse where…
read moreThe Telegraph Hotel | Tbilisi, Georgia Where Brutalist Heritage Meets Contemporary Georgian Design Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A remarkable transformation of Tbilisi’s former central post and telegraph headquarters into one of Georgia’s most significant design hotels. ● Designed by Neri & Hu, blending Soviet-era brutalism with contemporary craftsmanship and understated luxury. ● A…
read moreThe LINE LA | Los Angeles, California | USA Mid-Century Modernism Meets the Soul of Koreatown Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A beautifully restored 1964 modernist landmark where exposed concrete, Sean Knibb's warm interiors, and floor-to-ceiling city views capture the spirit of Los Angeles. ● One of the city's most authentic lifestyle hotels, deeply…
read moreW Florence, Florence Where Fashion, Modernism, and Florentine Heritage Meet Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A bold reinvention of Florence's former Grand Hotel Majestic, where 1960s Rationalist architecture meets AvroKO's fashion-inspired interiors. ● One of the city's most vibrant social destinations, combining contemporary Tuscan dining, rooftop cocktails, and W's signature energy. ● Proof that…
read moreLes Roches Rouges | Saint-Raphaël, France Mid-century Riviera modernism where white architecture, red Estérel rock and the Mediterranean meet Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Festen Architecture stripped away decades of additions to rediscover the clean modernist character of the original 1950s seaside hotel. ● Vintage pieces by Pierre Chareau, Willy Guhl and Charlotte Perriand…
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