500 Ocean Dr Miami Beach, Florida USA

Bentley Hotel

Construction date: documented 1939*

Current name:

Bentley Hotel

Architect:

John & Coulton Skinner

Builder:

O'Neill & Orr Building Corporation

Style:

Ocean drive hotel, Art Deco.

Symmetrical design, with building's southeast corner serving as the center; Continuous eyebrows extend along entire south and east elevations; Horizontal Banding; Slightly stepped ziggurat roofline at southeast corner of building; "Bentley Hotel" signage at cornice; Decorative bass relief molding in typical Art Deco fountain design at cornice of southeast corner of building; Octagonal porthole windows; Multi-colored terrazzo floor design in interior; Multi-colored limestone veneer at ground level and around primary entryway

Open to the public:

Yes.  

Significant Owner(s):

Riviera Hotel Company

 

Status of Historic Designation:

Designated at National level : Miami Beach Architectural District, 1979
Designated at Local level : Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue District, 1986

Area(s) of Significance:

Architecture
Community Planning and Development

Associated Files:

Architectural Description:

This is a 3-story hotel in the Art Deco style built in 1939. The building is l in plan. The structural system is concrete block stucco. The foundation is spread footing. Notable multi-colored limestone veneer at ground level and bordering primary entryway on corner of Ocean Drive and 5th street. The building has a flat with parapet roof. Windows are replacement aluminum jalacy casement. Few octagonal porthole windows. Shared porch built into addition of 510 Ocean Drive. Primary entryway is directly on the northwest corner of Ocean Drive and 5th street; Bordered by multi-colored limestone; Terrazzo floor design just before doorway; Single glass door with fixed glass directly on the left and top. There is a five-story, side, extension addition. Extension of hotel space in what is now "The Bentley"; New building compliments original design.

* Date source: City of Miami Beach Building Department records

Description generated by RuskinARC.