Royal Tenenbaum Residence
The mind of Wes Anderson creates 111 Archer Avenue and a spectacular mansion from 1899 is given new life.
Living Rooms is a column on YGL that takes a closer look into the designs, details, and character of spaces. A study of what makes a house a home, even when it’s fictional. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to lovely and unique dwellings—sometimes I watch films just to hang out in the spaces on the screen. Here’s to our homes!
Today we are diving into the whimsical world of Wes Anderson. The Royal Tenenbaums is a 2001 comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson and co-written with Owen Wilson. It was my first Anderson experience back in 2011. That’s correct, I was ten years late to the premiere and unaware of many indie films up until that point. It took moving to Vancouver and dating a hipster in the arts scene to introduce me to the works of this extraordinary director. Experiencing an Anderson film for the first time is an experience most viewers don’t forget. Each frame is a work of art in and of itself. Everything is pleasantly organized and surprisingly aesthetic. Anderson’s work has become very distinct and influential over the past two decades. Even if you haven’t seen his films, you have most definitely seen something inspired by them—whether that’s fashion, interiors, photography, or cinema. The Darjeeling Limited (2007) is my chosen favourite of his works but the Tenenbaum mansion is something special, and that’s the space we’ll be exploring together today.
Located in West Harlem’s Hamilton Heights, this is not a stereotypical home for the Big Apple. The five-story brick construction was designed by Adolph Hoak and went up in 1899. It boasts a 6,000 square foot floor plan with over 50 windows, an elevator, and impressive outdoor space—a castle-like property confidently placed in the heart of New York City. Anderson rented the space for six months to get all the staging and filming completed for the movie. If you’re interested in living large, this storybook home is renting for $20,000 USD a month.
The Tenenbaum family required a spacious dwelling with rich history, undeniable character, and strong but time-worn bones. A space to illustrate the eccentric inner workings of each individual. For who can tell the story of a family better than the walls of the home that contained them for decades? Anderson uses decor to speak to his audience—they say a picture is worth a thousand words but I think with Anderson’s obsession for detail, his pictures might be worth a few extra. His brother—a skilled cartoonist—helped him create detailed sketches of each room, then he hired decorators (David and Sandy Wasco) to bring these designs to life. The sketches were included in the sleeve of the DVD case, along with a note from Anderson. Such a beautiful touch! Alright, let’s jump up to the third floor and revel over Margot Tenenbaum’s bedroom.