case study - Sotheby's (Armadale Arts Precinct)

Sotheby's Australia, Armadale
926 High Street, Armadale
Melbourne, VIC Australia

www.sothebysaustralia.com.au

Services

Interiors
Displays

Branding

Project Sotheby’s is both the leading auction house internationally and locally reinforces Sotheby’s brand in a crowded and competitive market.

The Sotheby’s building is an icon building in the Armadale Arts Precinct. The design reinforces the brand position of the auction house as a venerable institution and project it into the realities of the International and Australian art market at the beginning of the millennium.

Design Vision

A truly flexible space for the auction house fulfilling all of Sotheby’s departments and employees and their clients’ needs for day to day operations and the exhibition and sales calendar.

The gallery is idle for most of the year; redesign the exhibition space so it can be used throughout the year – such as for client dinners and permanent display.
Create flexible exhibition and sales area to avoid double handling of the art work and decorative arts.
Redesign and reorganise the facility to provide ease of operations – smoother day to day running of the facility linking staff, departments and grouping operations.

Design a reception/meeting and dining area for clients – to provide privacy, enforce brand loyalty and enforce their VIP status to the house.

Privacy for clients should be of paramount concern.

Create flexible offices and administration areas – so the organisation can respond to the changing nature of the art market.

A space that can dynamically respond to the needs of the specialist.
Break down the perceived or physical barriers between the departments.
To create a truly responsive team environment.

Ease of access for clients and the art work.

Implementation of a disabled access plan and upgrading of facilities.
Secure access for paintings and decorative arts and eliminate double handling.
Secure storage for paintings and decorative arts. One safe area.
Eliminate double handling – delivery, display, auction, pick up.

Movable exhibition walls

The exibition walls are designed for ease of curatorship and flexibility of displaying different artists.