Yesterday, the President and I were taken on a tour of the not-so-new Bonhams by Alex Lifschutz of Lifschutz  Davidson Sandilands, who suggested that they could hollow out a house at the top end of Bond Street to provide a grand ceremonial entrance to their auction rooms.   Nothing could more obviously demonstrate the transformation of the art world into a sleekly modern business than his conversion of the higgledy piggledy old Phillips building.   It now has intelligently curved staircases and hyper serviced auction spaces and a small restaurant about to open in Haunch of Venison Yard.

Ⓒ Hufton and Crow

Ⓒ Hufton and Crow

Ⓒ Hufton and Crow