Step into Poirot's World on This Bronx Art Deco Walking Tour – Hosted by BCHS and BADAHA

Archived Event: This event took place On Saturday, June 7, 2025. This article remains available as part of TalkTeaV’s Bronx Moments archive.

A stylish stroll through Kingsbridge Heights and Fordham Manor reveals the Bronx's own legacy of Art Deco design—no mystery-solving required.

Left: Florin Court in London, fictional home (Whitehaven Mansions) of Hercule Poirot in the TV series, photographed by Tony Hisgett, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Right: Agatha Christie's Poirot key art (1989–2013) © ITV Studios / Agatha Christie Ltd.

If you've ever admired the sleek interiors and geometric splendor of Agatha Christie's Poirot (the TV series 1989–2013), this Bronx walking tour might feel like stepping into one of the detective's meticulously designed episodes.

The tour, fittingly named the "Art-Deco Beyond the Grand Concourse Walking Tour," is hosted by the Bronx County Historical Society and John Howard of the Bronx Art Deco Apartment House Archive (BADAHA).

Together, they'll guide guests through Kingsbridge Heights and Fordham Manor—two neighborhoods where the Art Deco movement left behind architectural gems worth rediscovering. From streamlined facades to intricate parapets, these buildings echo the same 1920s–30s elegance seen throughout Poirot, where every detail speaks of sophistication and thoughtful design.

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Image of Bronx Art Deco Building-Courtesy of John Howard Bronx Art Deco Apartment House Archive/BCHS

Poirot's fictional home, Whitehaven Mansions—filmed at London's real-life Florin Court—is a shining example of Art Deco's appeal, with its iconic curved facade and polished interiors that mirror the style's emphasis on symmetry and luxury. 

And just like Florin Court, the Bronx has its own Art Deco apartment buildings with sweeping curves, geometric detailing, and elegant lobbies that wouldn't feel out of place in one of Poirot's stylish cases.

Many of the apartment houses on the tour are featured on BADAHA's "Should Be Landmarked" list, including some at risk of losing original details through parapet replacement. You'll see both well-preserved structures and those in need of renewed appreciation, each revealing a piece of Bronx history and Art Deco artistry.

Founded by architectural historian John Howard, the Bronx Art Deco Apartment House Archive (BADAHA) documents and celebrates the borough's unique legacy of 1920s–40s apartment buildings. The archive spotlights buildings that blend beauty and function—featuring everything from sunburst-patterned doorways to terrazzo-tiled lobbies and curved staircases.

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Want a teaser of what to expect on the tour? Hear directly from John Howard in this episode of The Bronx Buzz, where he joins host Gary Axelbank to talk about the borough's Art Deco legacy and why it matters today. During the interview, Mr. Howard shared that his inspiration for the archive began while biking from Washington Heights into the Bronx, saying he was "wowed by what I saw."

John Howard discusses Bronx Art Deco architecture on The Bronx Buzz with Gary Axelbank.

Curious if your neighborhood has an Art Deco building? Visit BADAHA’s website and browse the growing archive of photos, maps, and preservation resources.

For those looking to dive deeper, John Howard also leads a Preservation School session hosted by the NYC Historic Districts Council, where he introduces the Art Deco style, its evolution in the Bronx, and the seven architectural types featured on the BADAHA website. The full video is available below.

Whether you're drawn to the elegance and balance that define Poirot's world or simply want to explore the hidden beauty of the Bronx, this tour promises a stylish walk through time that even the great detective might admire.

Walking Tour Details

Saturday, June 7, 2025

11:00 a.m. (approx. 90 minutes)

Meeting Location: 2845 University Avenue, The Bronx, NY 10468

Free and open to the public – no registration required

Questions? Email: education@bronxhistoricalsociety.org

Follow BCHS @bronxhistorian

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