Roy Franklin France (October 6, 1888 – February 15, 1972) was the American architect who is credited with creating the Miami Beach, Florida skyline.

He was originally based in the Midwest, but relocated to Miami Beach after a 1931 trip to Florida with his wife. Several of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Works in the Midwest include:

[Oak Park, Illinois]

In Miami Beach, France "designed dozens of prominent hotels in Art Deco and Post War Modern styles adapted to local conditions. His advice regarding design was, 'Let in the air and sun. That's what people come to Florida for.'" The Post War Modern style here came to be known as Miami Modern architecture.

Works

Works by Roy France in the Miami Beach include (roughly from south to north):

(*=included in Collins Waterfront Architectural District)

NameImageYearArchitectAddressNotes
St. Moritz HotelRoy France1565 Collins Ave. 25°47′20″N 80°07′46″W/25.788871°N 80.129311°W/ 25.788871; -80.129311(St. Moritz Hotel (Loews Miami Beach))Now the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
National HotelRoy France1677 Collins Ave. 25°47′31″N 80°07′46″W/25.791850°N 80.129400°W/ 25.791850; -80.129400(National Hotel)Art Deco 14-story tower
Jefferson Davis*1935Roy France2444 Flamingo Place 25°48′05″N 80°07′45″W/25.801444°N 80.129119°W/ 25.801444; -80.129119(Jefferson Davis)Art Deco
Palms Apartments*1936Roy France2460 Flamingo Place 25°48′06″N 80°07′45″W/25.801695°N 80.129172°W/ 25.801695; -80.129172(Palms Apartments)Art Deco
Edgewater Beach1935Roy France1410 Ocean Drive 25°47′08″N 80°07′48″W/25.785522°N 80.129926°W/ 25.785522; -80.129926(Edgewater Beach)
Prince Michael Hotel*1951Roy France2618 Collins Ave. 25°48′11″N 80°07′35″W/25.803023°N 80.126265°W/ 25.803023; -80.126265(Prince Michael Hotel)Modern
Sea Isle Hotel*1941Roy France3025 Collins Ave. 25°48′22″N 80°07′27″W/25.806076°N 80.124104°W/ 25.806076; -80.124104(Sea Isle Hotel)Streamline, later the Miami Beach Ocean Resort and now The Palms Hotel & Spa
Lord Baltimore Hotel*1941Roy France3030 Collins Ave. 25°48′23″N 80°07′28″W/25.806430°N 80.124577°W/ 25.806430; -80.124577(Lord Baltimore Hotel)Streamline
Sans Souci Hotel*, now Hotel RIU Plaza1949Roy France, Morris Lapidus3101 Collins Ave. 25°48′24″N 80°07′26″W/25.806789°N 80.123960°W/ 25.806789; -80.123960(Sans Souci Hotel)Modern
Saxony Hotel*, now Faena Hotel Miami Beach1948Roy France3201 Collins Ave. 25°48′27″N 80°07′25″W/25.807403°N 80.123551°W/ 25.807403; -80.123551(Saxony Hotel)Modern (Post War Modern style)
Atlantic Beach Hotel*1938Roy France3400 Collins Ave. 25°48′31″N 80°07′26″W/25.808584°N 80.123936°W/ 25.808584; -80.123936(Atlantic Beach Hotel)Art Deco. Now the "Faena Bazaar".
Versailles Hotel*1940Roy France3425 Collins Ave. 25°48′32″N 80°07′24″W/25.808768°N 80.123311°W/ 25.808768; -80.123311(Versailles Hotel)Art Deco - Streamline
Patrician Hotel*1937Roy France3621 Collins Ave. 25°48′36″N 80°07′24″W/25.810087°N 80.123253°W/ 25.810087; -80.123253(Patrician Hotel)Art Deco, now the All Seasons Hotel
3700 Collins Ave. Apartments*1938Roy France3700 Collins Ave. 25°48′38″N 80°07′25″W/25.810545°N 80.123613°W/ 25.810545; -80.123613(3700 Collins Ave. Apartments)Art Deco
Wilshire Hotel*, now "Ocean Villas"1939Roy France3710 Collins Ave. 25°48′38″N 80°07′25″W/25.810658°N 80.123529°W/ 25.810658; -80.123529(Wilshire Hotel)Streamline
Cadillac Hotel*1940Roy France3925 Collins Ave 25°48′43″N 80°7′23″W/25.81194°N 80.12306°W/ 25.81194; -80.12306(Cadillac Hotel)Streamline (with 1956 addition designed by Melvin Grossman), NRHP-listed
San Marino Hotel*, now "Lexington by Hotel RL"1950Roy France4299 Collins Ave. 25°48′51″N 80°07′21″W/25.814235°N 80.122597°W/ 25.814235; -80.122597(San Marino Hotel)Modern
Sovereign Hotel*, now "SOHO Beach House"1941Roy France4385 Collins Ave. 25°48′57″N 80°07′20″W/25.815936°N 80.122244°W/ 25.815936; -80.122244(Sovereign Hotel)Art Deco
Alamo Hotel*, now "L Hotel" or "Alamo Hotel Apartments"1938Roy France4121 Indian Creek Dr. 25°48′49″N 80°07′25″W/25.813678°N 80.123540°W/ 25.813678; -80.123540(Alamo Hotel)Art Deco
Piccadilly Manor*1935Roy France2445 Pine Tree Dr. 25°48′05″N 80°07′46″W/25.801484°N 80.129314°W/ 25.801484; -80.129314(Piccadilly Manor)Streamline
Pines Apartments*1936Roy France2463 Pine Tree Dr. 25°48′06″N 80°07′45″W/25.801694°N 80.129252°W/ 25.801694; -80.129252(Pines Apartments)Art Deco. (This is other, mirror side of 2450 Flamingo Pl.?)
Bellamar Hotel*1939Roy France220 31st St. 25°48′24″N 80°07′29″W/25.806552°N 80.124797°W/ 25.806552; -80.124797(Bellamar Hotel)Art Deco
Ocean Grande Hotel*1939Roy France100 37th St. 25°48′37″N 80°07′23″W/25.810205°N 80.123001°W/ 25.810205; -80.123001(Ocean Grande Hotel)Art Deco
Casablanca, now "The Casablanca on the Ocean"Roy France6345 Collins Ave. 25°50′43″N 80°07′12″W/25.845286°N 80.120027°W/ 25.845286; -80.120027(Casablanca on the Ocean)

He designed numerous hotels in Miami Beach which were surviving in 2018, while several others had been demolished. Demolished ones included:

  • Whitman (demolished),
  • Shoremede (demolished).

A number are contributing buildings in the Collins Waterfront Architectural District, listed on the National Register.