Listen, Only murders in the building Fans: The fourth season of the series premieres on August 27th and includes a new murder investigation related to the death of Jane Lynch’s character and a long-awaited return of Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd (according to The Hollywood Reporter) – will once again take place in the fictional Arconia building. If you’re as in love as we are with the apartment complex where all the characters live, we have good news: you too can live in the Arconia. However, in real life, it’s called Belnord (and although its exterior shots are used in the series, we’re sorry to tell you that the interior shots of the Arconia apartments were all filmed on a soundstage).
Here’s everything you need to know about this famous Upper West Side building before you see it again in Season 4.
225 West 86th Street is one of the last remaining block-long residential buildings in New York City.
Where is Arconia?
The Belnord – the real name of the fictional Arconia – is located in New York City’s Upper West Side, at 225 West 86th Street. The building is almost equidistant from Riverside Park to the west and Central Park – no introduction needed – to the east. In other words, it’s a prime place to get to the bottom of a few murders and live large while doing so.
The sense of place is further enhanced by the Belnord’s grand entrance with its wrought iron gates (a popular stop for New York tour groups) and Roman-inspired frescoes that recall the building’s Italian Renaissance roots. If you’re a Only murders Fan, you have definitely Familiarize yourself with this part of the building, as this is where the three protagonists like to gather during heated police operations.
Vaulted ceilings with Roman-style frescoes? This is the height of perfection.
What is the history of the building?
The 13-story building was originally constructed in 1908 in the Beaux-Arts style by architect H. Hobart Weekes of Hiss and Weekes. Since then, the building was given New York City landmark status in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places 14 years later.
Robert AM Stern Architects (RAMSA) modernized the residences after they were purchased by HFZ Capital Group in 2015. The architecture firm was hired to “refresh the building and convert nearly half of the rental units into condominiums that are suitable for 21st century living,” according to the architecture firm. The work involved extensive interior improvements and minor exterior work approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
RAMSA is behind the Belnord’s new marble-clad lobby on 86th and 87th Streets (block-length apartment buildings are a rarity in the city, by the way), the kitchens in color palettes of bleached oak or white-lacquered wood, the new amenities that make it easy to leave the Belnord, and much more.
The lobbies of the private residences in the renovated building feature satin nickel hardware, restored and polished mosaic floors, and high-gloss wall paneling.
Renowned interior designer and architect Rafael de Cárdenas of ELLE DECOR also worked to give the spaces a distinctly contemporary style while preserving their historic elements through “custom and selected furniture, lighting and artwork,” 1stDibs reports.
What does the Belnord look like inside?
Belnord’s renovated units not only feature kitchens with souped-up appliances and Calacatta gold marble countertops (not to mention master baths with gleaming Dornbracht fixtures), but also white oak floors, Sub-Zero wine refrigerators, deep soaking tubs, rooms with plenty of southern light, and more.
Chevron-style white oak accent floors, high-gloss lacquered entry doors and custom moldings were just some of the details RAMSA implemented in the residences.
Residents now also have access to over 30,000 square feet of amenities, including a dramatic resident lounge where you can spend entire evenings Only murders Season 4 and the fully equipped Belnord Club fitness center (with double-height sports court, state-of-the-art equipment, sauna area and similar facilities).
Take a look at the curved furniture, dramatic grey painted walls, oak floors and veined marble doorframe in the residents’ lounge.
Of course, those lucky enough to call the Belnord home also have the opportunity to take advantage of the stunning courtyard, redesigned by Edmund Hollander of Hollander Design. The Belnord’s website states that it was the largest of its kind in the world when the building opened; it now features a Parisian fountain, lush hedges, elegant benches and seasonal flowers.
Persuaded to move in, like, yesterday? Act fast: There are only two units available for purchase and both will cost well over $10 million.
Stacia Datskovska, Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, decor, and architecture with an eye for trends and culture in general. She has written for USA Today, the Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Apartment Therapy, and more.
