Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, Sept. 8, 2021
Design lovers who have been watching Only Murders in the Building may have noticed a particularly grand filming location in the series’s titular building, dubbed “The Arconia” on the show. As it turns out, this apartment building actually exists in real life, and its real name is the Belnord.
Built in 1908 by architectural firm Hiss and Weekes, the Belnord is located at 86th and Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and consists of 13 floors. This Italian Renaissance-style building boasts two imposing archways that lead to a private courtyard—one of the largest in all of New York City—and perfectly manicured gardens.
“For our story and our fictional Arconia, I knew we needed a home that carried enough history and elegance to hold a world of mystery and intrigue—and one that could also serve as a fitting backdrop worthy of our legendary cast.”
John Hoffman, co-creator, “Only Murders in the Building”
Thanks to the Belnord’s tenants and management, in addition to the show’s locations team—which was led by Collin Smith—the Belnord surpassed all of our wildest dreams. The famed building basically wrote itself into our show as its own central compelling character.
John Hoffman, co-creator, “Only Murders in the Building”
