Maison d’enchère Phillips Auctioneers et de Pury & Luxembourg Art

In 2001, LVMH acquired Phillips Auctioneers and merged it with de Pury & Luxembourg. The group subsequently established the auction house’s U.S. headquarters in Manhattan’s business district, at 3 West 57th Street, near Fifth Avenue. The award-winning architect was commissioned to undertake the complete refurbishment of the twelve-storey building.

Housed within a former 1940s bank, the heritage building renovation reconfigures the structure to accommodate auction and exhibition functions. The ground floor becomes a large, flexible salesroom and gallery, while upper levels accommodate exhibition spaces, reception, client areas, executive offices and specialist departments.

The brief called for a “French-style refined identity.” The French architect reinforces brand presence on the façade while preserving its original character. Additions include a projecting entrance canopy defining the threshold and public interface, and a re-engineered metalwork system enabling larger glazing bays and increased façade transparency. The intervention by the award-winning architect also comprises a contemporary re-reading of the existing stone façade, achieved through a subtly recessed, precision-cut engraving of the Phillips name. Bespoke interior detailing — including leather-clad handrails with saddle-stitched seams and tailored junctions — further enhances the material continuity and contributes to a unified, high-specification spatial identity.

Internally, a restrained material palette of sandblasted glass, light maple and taupe textiles establishes a refined atmosphere. The award-winning architect retained and enhanced existing heritage elements — including the vault door, stair handrails and elevator wood panelling — through lighting design. The French architect conceives the ground floor as a flexible, reconfigurable volume for rapid transitions between gallery and auction hall uses. Adaptability is ensured through custom-designed joinery, modular demountable furniture, and integrated back-of-house storage, enabling efficient reconfiguration and operations.