On the FX series “American Horror Story: Coven,” this grand old house is known as “Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies” (aka witches).
In real life, it’s a three-story, 20,000-square-foot landmark in New Orleans from the 1850s called Buckner Mansion.
Let’s take a look at both the real and onscreen versions…
Miss Robichaux’s Academy on “American Horror Story: Coven”
The exteriors were filmed at Buckner Mansion, but the interiors were created on an 8,000-sq-ft soundstage.
Front Hall:
Ryan Murphy says, “Last year was so dark and grim and hard and I loved it, but this year was designed to be more, I think, fun. I wanted this year to be more light.”
That’s the idea that dictated how the rooms should look.
Set decorator Ellen Brill says, “You can really see blood on white!”
Production Designer Mark Worthington says:
We knew we wanted the rooms to be light in tone.
So we came down to New Orleans and the idea was to find an old antebellum mansion in the Garden District, a Greco-Roman revival, which starts from a base of being lighter.
I started pulling research (of) interiors that had a lot of white walls, white floor, lighter tones with darker furniture, creating contrast.
They built a working staircase with a real second floor for the “Coven” sets.
Upstairs hallway with the girls’ bedrooms:
Kitchen:
Not sure I’d want to eat any food served off that “kitchen island.” 😉
Sarah Paulson plays Cordelia, Headmistress of Miss Robichaux’s Academy, who’s a master at potion work. She tries to guide young witches Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), Madison (Emma Roberts), Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), and Nan (Jamie Brewer).
Jessica Lange plays Fiona Goode, the Coven’s “Supreme,” who is the head of the Coven. Definitely not someone you want to cross!
The Real Buckner Mansion: 1410 Jackson Ave in New Orleans
The real house is in the historic Garden District of New Orleans and was built in 1856 by cotton magnate Henry S. Buckner.
Buckner Mansion used to be a school, too, although it wasn’t for witches. From 1923-1983 it was the site of Soulé Business College.
The mansion is now a private residence you can rent for special occasions.
The VRBO.com listing says:
It is 1853. Cotton is King, New Orleans is the center of the universe, and you are Henry Sullivan Buckner. You commission renowned architect Lewis E. Reynolds to build the most beautiful and magnificent mansion in the very heart of New Orleans’ Garden District. The result is one of the finest examples of Southern antebellum architecture, having a scale of elegance from the 19th Century that is rarely found.
The mansion has over 20,000 square feet, 48 Ionic and Corinthian fluted cypress columns, endless verandas, ornate cast-iron, and floor to ceiling windows.
Set designer Mark Worthington didn’t think the real house would work for the show because the proportions were “a little odd” with “long and narrow and tall” rooms for filming.
Instead of filming on location, the sets were built on a soundstage.
What a gorgeous old home (building?) I love what they did with the sets. I thought it was a real interior! Interesting that the set designer thought the rooms too long and narrow to film in. I’ve lived in narrow. Those rooms, IMO, are not narrow. 🙂 Very cool, that they rent the real location out for events. What a beautiful spot for a wedding!
I know, right? I guess they need more space than normal to film in, but I thought the same thing, Alie! 🙂
Love that you covered this former ‘Coven’ mansion in New Orleans! We live about 20 minutes away from this place and never get tired of the area. So much inspiration to draw from when we renovate our own homes.
Thanks for the link, Miss Amy! 🙂
dearest julia, you’re the best!
i love the american horror story series , i loved the murder house in the 1st season but the coven house is way more superior; it’s not even scary, it’s just chic!
and as always you found the best pictures; i’ve been looking for pictures many times and found a lot a screen shots but no good images like yours. So thanks again for your fantastic work, keep looking for more amazing dream houses.
xoxo
Thanks, Cecile! Always nice to hear from you! 🙂
Wow – What a house. I love that they did the sets so different than what you’d expect – so light and bright. Perfect contrast to the subject matter. Give me ‘contrast’ anytime. I remember when the movie “Practical Magic” came out, Traditional Home did a story on how they very purposefully made the sets look lighter and cleaner than what you might expect. They could have gone very dark and dusty there too but wanted to avoid that to provide surprise and (again) contrast.
Kim, I absolutely loved the sets/locations they used for Practical Magic! The home, town and little shop was a perfect surprise for that kind of storyline. I swear sometimes I watch older movies just to gush over the beautiful places behind the performance. I could watch What Lies Beneath over and over for that gorgeous lake house alone! Was beyond bummed years ago to discover here on Julia’s blog it wasn’t a real residence.
Thanks for the fun post! And great timing – I just checked into a hotel in the French Quarter for a two-day business meeting, and plan on heading out to the Garden District the day after tomorrow. I’m excited at the prospect of seeing one of your posted houses in person! Loved the first two seasons of American Horror Story, and then didn’t have time for it once I got sucked down the HBO rabbit hole of one addictive series after another. The house looks amazing. That triple parlor is impressive! And the soundstage interiors are incredible as well – the carved reliefs in the “plaster” are gorgeous! What fun it must be to design those stage sets.
Great job on this post, Julia. I seem to recall suggesting in a previous comment that this would be a good one for you. I really enjoyed the Coven season and the sets on that show. That has to be about the most elaborate house interior set I ever seen made just for a TV series. They made great use of locations around New Orleans as well. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with for Lady Gaga this season.
I recognized the Garden District mansion immediately! I actually attended Soule College in 1978! We used to sit outside under the oaks to eat our lunch. Loved seeing the interior since it has returned to a private residence. I also work in the area so it’s on my route.
Great post! Thank you.
You did? Wow! How fun that you went to school there, Mary. 🙂
Julia,
The house is a beautiful step back in time. The production sets are beleavable as interiors. The triple arches with columns remind me of the white parlor at Nottaway Plantation in White Castle LA on the Mississippi River. I stayed overnight 30+ years ago.
That would be another house to do a story on.
rick
I like the set interior more than the house “now” interior. I like all that white and normally I do not like white on white…but it just seems to fit the entire home. Looking forward to Hotel this season. I have been an avid fan, a somewhat disappointed fan during seasons 3 and 4…I have high hopes for season 5!