Whom You Know: BONHAMS UNVEILS £30M DESIGN FOR ITS NEW INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

BONHAMS UNVEILS £30M DESIGN FOR ITS NEW INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON

BONHAMS BUILDS BEST `SELLING SPACE’ IN AUCTION WORLD

Bonhams is to build a new international headquarters in London to provide the most advanced salerooms in the world.

Designed by award-winning architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, the building is to be constructed on the site of the company’s current headquarters at 101 New Bond Street. The 20th century façades on New Bond Street and Blenheim Street will be retained, but behind them will emerge a new 21^st century structure offering the most modern facilities and auction experience in the world. The Haunch of Venison Yard elevation, accessed from Brook Street, will reveal the new building’s unique features including three large new salesrooms (double-height with skyboxes to maximise viewing of sales), preview galleries, a café and high quality, daylit workspace for Bonhams’ specialist staff.

The new premises, with its accent on new technology and customer service, is a key part of the company’s plans to build on the growth which has transformed it over the past 10 years from solid, traditional British auctioneer to one of the fastest growing international houses in the world.

Construction work is to be phased to ensure that Bonhams’ programme of sales will continue unaffected. Indeed, as each stage of development is completed, Bonhams clients will benefit from better facilities and a much enhanced experience, including a cafe and welcoming public spaces. The project is to be submitted for planning consent in June 2011 and is due for completion in December 2013.

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands is renowned for its innovative and high-profile designs, ranging from bridges to buildings of all types. Recent projects include the new flagship Tsvetnoy food store and restaurants in Moscow, and the historic La Rinascente department store in Milan. Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands also has a 15-year relationship with Harvey Nichols, creating their restaurant brand with six restaurants in London, Edinburgh and Manchester. The studio is currently designing a number of leading London projects including the new Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road. Close by Bonhams, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands is also designing a large mixed use development at Hanover Square above the Crossrail station and also has been recently appointed to design a scheme for the Middlesex Hospital site.

Robert Brooks, Bonhams Chairman, commented, “Over the past 10 years we’ve grown rapidly to become one of the world’s leading auction houses. We’re now starting to outgrow our existing premises and if we are to fulfil our plans for the future we need a new space to provide our customers with the improved quality of experience we believe they deserve. Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands have come up with a concept which will be a real enhancement to this historic area of London and, I believe, the most fantastic auction setting anywhere.”

Alex Lifschutz of Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands said, “We’re very excited to have been entrusted with this prestigious and challenging project for Bonhams. Our design responds to Bonhams’ rich British history, the particular architecture of the locality and to realising the company’s vision for the future. We look forward to creating an important destination for what is one of the world’s fastest growing cultural institutions.”

Construction Timetable:

- Phase 1 (the refurbishment of Blenstock House) will be completed by the end of December 2011

- Phase 2 (the new build element) starts on site mid-2012.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further four throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go towww.bonhams.com

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

"No one has yet to express their taste for our cuisine better than Peachy Deegan on Whom You Know. Thank you for transforming our flavor into words, unlike any other before.
Sometimes WHOM YOU KNOW, really makes a difference and Ammos Estiatorio is grateful to know Peachy Deegan!"
-
Dimitris Nakos, Founder and Owner of
Ammos Estiatorio
https://ammosnewyork.com/

“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
www.FreshOrigins.com

"Peachy Deegan has the pulse of the nation and highlights exceptional opinion leaders in more than 23,000 inspiring and entertaining posts. Her 100,000 twitter followers are a true testimony to Peachy’s ability to inspire, motivate and entertain. She is a feminine force to be reckoned with and an exemplary example of an influential voice in today’s world."

-Mica Mosbacher, author of the new book The Hurricane Factor: Stormside Patriots and tv political commentator

"It was an honour to be chosen for Movers and Shakers by Peachy Deegan. The questions in the interview were intelligent and insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed answering them. The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped bring my art practice to a wider audience."
-Damien Flood, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
http://www.damienflood.ie/

"We were so fortunate to hit Peachy’s radar. Her review of our Warmies was spot-on and came at a great time in our company’s early history.
Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
of consumers."
-Scott Wehrs
President
Intelex U.S.A.
http://www.intelexusallc.com/

"We at Primola love working with Whom You Know and are proud to have been a highly-ranked Manhattan restaurant by Peachy Deegan since 2012, and are featured seasonally. We appreciate the fantastic work Peachy does highlighting our cuisine with her sublime writing style and the whole neighborhood of the Upper East side. Also, we are glad that she has started a Made in Italy column! If you have the opportunity to be considered for review, we'd highly recommend working with her."
-Giuliano Zuliani, Owner of Primola Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

-
Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/