By their nature, auctions are all about possession. Whether classic cars, vintage jewelry or baseball cards, the coveted treasures sold to the highest bidder are typically only briefly glimpsed before being squirrelled out of the public eye for decades or centuries to come. For Sotheby’s, it’s a tradition that dates back centuries. It’s also one that the global giant is gracefully subverting at their newly opened Sotheby’s Maison in Hong Kong, where a gallery and retail destination lend the auction house a prominent and inviting public face.

And it’s quite a face. Designed by Rotterdam-based architects MVRDV, the two-storey, 2,250-square-metre Sotheby’s Maison combines a public art gallery and an immersive, Taoist-inspired experience that invites intimate, private encounters with both artworks and auction items. While a tactfully spare and simple white cube gallery occupies the upper storey, the ground level is a decidedly dramatic destination.

On the lower level, an open and moody central space — dubbed the “grotto” — can easily be programmed to host a variety of gatherings, performances events, including live auctions. The elegantly dim grotto is framed by a series of sculptural entrances to smaller surroundings rooms. Accented by warm lighting, these sinuous entrances — appearing almost as portals to new dimensions — are carved out in layers of wood, a form inspired by the Gongshi, or scholar’s rock, which symbolizes harmony, adaptability, and evolution. Past the wood thresholds, the five individual rooms are accented in shades of burgundy and charcoal, with the lofty ceilings and low lighting creating a sequence of tranquil viewing experiences.

From the grotto, stairs and escalators connect the ground level to the gallery above. You’ll want to take the stairs. An extension of the Gongshi concept, the central stair is almost geological in its depth, with the varied layers of wood converging like flysch lines in an ancient, smoothed down rock. The space is distinguished by its meticulous architectural craft, with every line of wood seamlessly curving into both the tread of the stair and the spectacle of the ceiling.

Upstairs, the light-filled gallery is a pleasant contrast to the moody, contemplative rooms below. Envisioned as a more bustling venue, the space is designed to showcase a rotating collection of privately owned artworks, which would typically remain out of public view.

While the contrast between the two levels is stark, the dichotomy is thoughtful. Inspired by the Taoist principles of harmonious tension and perpetual change, the design elevates the journey through contrasts into a guiding principle.

For Sotheby’s, the venue opens up a new civic presence. Prominently sited in Hong Kong’s Landmark Chater mall, at the bustling corner of Chater Road and Pedder Street, the street-facing Sotheby’s Maison offers a contrast to most of the surrounding luxury retailers, which are accessed solely from elevated pedestrian bridges and the mall interior. For the rest of us, it’s an opportunity to peek behind the curtain.

“We may be used to thinking of renowned auction houses as somewhat ‘elite’ spaces that the average person wouldn’t visit,” says MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs. “We envisioned a space where the barriers between the public and priceless art collections are reimagined, making art accessible in new and daring ways.”