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: Lake Shore Apartments, 470-498 Sheridan Rd. Evanston, Illinois, NRHP-listed Hillcrest Apartment, 1509-1515 Hinman Ave. Evanston, Illinois, NRHP-listed Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois Santa Maria Apartments, 208-232 N. Oak Park Avenue and 719-729 Erie Street, [Oak Park, Illinois] One or more works in NRHP-listed Hyde Park-Kenwood Historic District, Chicago, 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) NameImage Year Architect Address Notes St. Moritz Hotel Roy France 1565 Collins Ave. Now the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. National Hotel Roy France 1677 Collins Ave. Art Deco 14-story tower Jefferson Davis* 1935 Roy France 2444 Flamingo Place Art Deco Palms Apartments* 1936 Roy France 2460 Flamingo Place Art Deco Edgewater Beach 1935 Roy France 1410 Ocean Drive Prince Michael Hotel* 1951 Roy France 2618 Collins Ave. Modern Sea Isle Hotel* 1941 Roy France 3025 Collins Ave. Streamline, later the Miami Beach Ocean Resort and now The Palms Hotel & Spa Lord Baltimore Hotel* 1941 Roy France 3030 Collins Ave. Streamline Sans Souci Hotel*, now Hotel RIU Plaza 1949 Roy France, Morris Lapidus 3101 Collins Ave. Modern Saxony Hotel*, now Faena Hotel Miami Beach 1948 Roy France 3201 Collins Ave. Modern (Post War Modern style) Atlantic Beach Hotel* 1938 Roy France 3400 Collins Ave. Art Deco. Now the "Faena Bazaar". Versailles Hotel* 1940 Roy France 3425 Collins Ave. Art Deco - Streamline Patrician Hotel* 1937 Roy France 3621 Collins Ave. Art Deco, now the All Seasons Hotel 3700 Collins Ave. Apartments* 1938 Roy France 3700 Collins Ave. Art Deco Wilshire Hotel*, now "Ocean Villas" 1939 Roy France 3710 Collins Ave. Streamline Cadillac Hotel* 1940 Roy France 3925 Collins Ave Streamline (with 1956 addition designed by Melvin Grossman), NRHP-listed San Marino Hotel*, now "Lexington by Hotel RL" 1950 Roy France 4299 Collins Ave. Modern Sovereign Hotel*, now "SOHO Beach House" 1941 Roy France 4385 Collins Ave. Art Deco Alamo Hotel*, now "L Hotel" or "Alamo Hotel Apartments" 1938 Roy France 4121 Indian Creek Dr. Art Deco Piccadilly Manor* 1935 Roy France 2445 Pine Tree Dr. Streamline Pines Apartments* 1936 Roy France 2463 Pine Tree Dr. Art Deco. (This is other, mirror side of 2450 Flamingo Pl.?) Bellamar Hotel* 1939 Roy France 220 31st St. Art Deco Ocean Grande Hotel* 1939 Roy France 100 37th St. Art DecoCasablanca, now "The Casablanca on the Ocean"Roy France6345 Collins Ave.
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.
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