The London and international Auctioneers, Bonhams has unveiled plans for a £30m redevelopment of its Bond Street headquarters in London. The building has been designed by award-winning architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. The new building is to be constructed on the site of the company’s current headquarters at 101 New Bond Street. This scheme, now goes to public consultation this week and is being funded wholly by the auction firm itself. As part of a bid to create the world’s best saleroom complex in the heart of the British capital. The Art Deco façades on New Bond Street and Blenheim Street will be retained, but behind them will emerge a new structure offering state of the art modern facilities. 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 two-stage development, which, if approved, would see the gutting and refurbishment of the Grade II listed Blenstock House on Blenheim Street, followed by the demolition and replacement of the rest of the complex. It will take two years to , Westminster planners give it the go-ahead. Three major salesrooms will be incorporated into seven when required, state-of-the-art facilities for all departments, a more welcoming experience for buyers and sellers and the opening up of Haunch of Venison Yard into a vibrant arts/café hub are all key elements in the plan for a ground-breaking, purpose-built leading international saleroom for the 21st century.
Bonhams was established in 1793 by Thomas Dodd, a renowned antique print dealer who joined with the book specialist Walter Bonham. The company expanded and by the 1850s was handling all categories of antiques. In 2001 Bonhams & Brooks merged with Phillips Son & Neale to form a new UK company trading as Bonhams. By the end of 2003 Bonhams was conducting more than 700 annual sales, had over 600 employees, and revenues of $304 million.