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.
Trailhead Lodge Rocky Mountains | Estes Park, Colorado | USA A revived mountain lodge bringing contemporary design, communal energy, and a new generation of outdoor hospitality to the Rockies Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A thoughtful reworking of the classic American mountain lodge, replacing dated roadside functionality with warm, contemporary interiors rooted in the…
read moreYours Truly DC, Washington, D.C. Brutalist Bones, Bohemian Soul Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A striking reinvention of a 1971 Brutalist landmark that transforms concrete architecture into one of Washington's most creative hospitality spaces. ● A vibrant living-room concept where locals and travelers naturally mingle over coffee by day and cocktails by night. ●…
read moreThe Pearl Hotel, San Diego Mid-Century California Reimagined Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A beautifully restored 1960s motor lodge that celebrates authentic mid-century California design with a fresh contemporary twist. ● The iconic oyster-shaped pool, preserved neon sign, and retro architectural details give the hotel a personality few boutique properties can match. ● A…
read moreSkyview Los Alamos - California, USA Where a 1950s roadside motel gets a second life among the vineyards of Santa Ynez Valley. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A late-1950s motor lodge rescued from abandonment and reinvented without erasing its mid-century California and Western roots. ● Original motel details — from the kidney-shaped pool and…
read moreHotel Joaquin, Laguna Beach From Roadside Motel to Design-Forward Escape Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A beautifully reimagined 1940s roadside motel that captures the spirit of Southern California's mid-century beach culture through timeless, residential design. ● Interiors by Studio Robert McKinley blend vintage furniture, handcrafted materials, curated local art, and tactile natural finishes into…
read moreCalistoga Motor Lodge & Spa, Calistoga, California, USAA playful revival of the classic American roadside motel, infused with geothermal wellness, vintage charm, and California wine country cool. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A brilliantly reimagined 1940s motor lodge designed by AvroKO, inspired by the golden age of American road trips. ● Retro-modern interiors, geothermal…
read moreParco dei Principi - Sorrento, Italy Giò Ponti's Modernist Masterpiece Above the Bay of Naples Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● One of the world's most complete and beautifully preserved hotel designs by legendary architect Giò Ponti. ● A breathtaking clifftop setting where architecture and the Mediterranean exist in perfect harmony. ● More than a…
read moreHotel June Malibu Where Hollywood History Meets Barefoot California Cool Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A lovingly restored 1949 roadside motel that once welcomed James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Bob Dylan, now reimagined by Proper Hospitality and the team behind Native Hotel. ● Mid-century bungalows that pair minimalist California design with vintage character, local…
read moreHotel June – Los Angeles Where Mid-Century Modern Meets the California Coast Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A beautifully restored mid-century landmark by architect Welton Becket, reimagined with relaxed California style by Studio Collective. ● Warm, beach-inspired interiors that capture the effortless spirit of Venice, Marina del Rey, and Baja California. ● A vibrant…
read moreVilla Ponti Bellavista – Lake Como, Italy Gio Ponti’s extraordinary 1960s mountain aerie, where a modernist villa floats above Lake Como like an ocean liner in the clouds. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● An exceptionally rare opportunity to actually live inside Italian design history, in a villa conceived in collaboration with Gio Ponti at…
read moreOcean Drive Talamanca | Ibiza, Spain Seventies Ibiza reworked with Mediterranean modernism, rooftop energy and views across Talamanca Bay Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A 1972 hotel intelligently rehabilitated rather than erased, with architect Víctor Rahola transforming the original structure through a contemporary interpretation of Ibiza’s light, materials and landscape. ● The architecture goes…
read moreThe Jay, San Francisco Brutalist Architecture, Californian Warmth Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A thoughtful transformation of John Portman's striking Brutalist landmark into one of San Francisco's most design-forward hotels. ● AvroKO masterfully balances sculptural architecture with warm, contemporary interiors inspired by the city's creative pioneers. ● A hotel that tells San Francisco's story…
read more
