Sotheby's Maison Hong Kong Opens with MVRDV Design

Sotheby's has inaugurated a new 2,200-square-meter flagship space in Hong Kong's Chater House, designed by Rotterdam-based architecture firm MVRDV. The two-story venue, named Sotheby's Maison, features a walnut staircase inspired by the legendary Gongshi scholar's rock and is divided into a ground-floor exhibition area with dramatic Sanctum and Pantheon galleries, and an upper floor for retail displaying over 200 rotating objects including fossils, Old Master drawings, African art, jewelry, contemporary design furniture, armor, and sneakers. The first exhibition is Bodhi: Capolavori dell'Arte Buddhista Monumentale, focusing on Buddhist sculpture across centuries. The design incorporates Taoist symbolism, with dark, intimate ground-floor spaces contrasting with bright, open upper-level rooms clad in marble and champagne-colored steel. A food and beverage corner will open on the first floor. The opening follows Sotheby's recent agreement with Abu Dhabi's ADQ investment fund for a minority stake, as majority owner Patrick Drahi faces $60 billion in debt from his telecom company Altice. Sotheby's also plans new headquarters at New York's Breuer Building and a Paris location on Rue de Faubourg opening in October. The Hong Kong venue will host Sotheby's first Asian sales on September 25 and 26, coinciding with Christie's new Hong Kong headquarters debut.