House plus size mode

  It is a little less than 20 years, began the journey to Rosenthal one of the fashion schools in South Africa to develop. Which led to the ambitious project, which recently completed a home for LISOF. The three storey building is located in a residential area of ​​Blairgowrie Johannesburg, and is surrounded by a park Rosenthal praised the community in exchange for park maintenance.

Rosenthal, 47, the fashion in Natal Technikon studied in one of the great educators of fashion in South Africa, Alyce Defty, now has more than 700 students. Big names in the South African industry, including Tiaan Nagel, Thula Sindi and Suzann Heyns have gone through the school.

'' We started small in a basement in Boston campus, "she said.

'' We moved to Norwood, then the Design District in Rosebank before the lease expired. "

With their time more Rosebank, Rosenthal and his students and staff agreed that creative space, was essential to the creativity of teachers, administrators and students.

Architects and Fiona Garson Nina Cohen, who designed Wits Art Museum, were responsible for the renovation of the newly acquired buildings Rosenthal.

'' We are in urban and suburban generation and we like renovations, "says Garson.

'' The inept, boring, isolated areas of the building not do not scare us. "

'' We loved the short, "says Cohen.

'' He called clean rooms connected, the major use of the fact that the building is to make aspects used both in the north and south. "

Their vision was to use existing parts of the building, where possible, improve the quality and reimagining bit sketchy.

'' We opened the front with lots of glass and ramps. We have a transparent mezzanine overlooking the park outside, but also allows outsiders to see the building, "says Cohen.

Original elements of the original building have been preserved intact, as the round windows on the lower level, the. Two rows of square windows on the second and third floor and small arches in the lower level The crown of the building freestanding sign LISOF on top.

'' It was a Shana element points out, "Cohen said,'' And it really works.

'' Shana took a leap of faith with this building. It is uplifting the industry, but "at the same time exalting the area in which the school operates.

The park is maintained by the school for the benefit of the surrounding communities - they speak with the markets, festivals and fashion shows there, and Rosenthal hope restaurants, cafes and shops in the area.

'' It is an educational institution, youth, creativity and culture helps in the region, "Garson said.