Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design In London By FCB Studios

Project Name

 Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design

Posted in

Cultural, Design, Interior Design, Fashion

Architecture Practice

Detailed Information
Project Name	Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design	Posted in	Cultural, Design, Interior Design, Fashion	Architecture Practice	Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS)

It’s Monday morning, and even though you’re still tired from last night’s party, you manage to get out of bed early and be at college on time. Sitting in a bright classroom, you and your fellow students are now waiting for the teacher to arrive, chatting and laughing. Outside, in the courtyard, some other students are doing a fashion shoot for a school project. Suddenly, the door opens and in walks Anna Wintour, holding her handbag and a paper folder. Everyone stops talking and take their seats. She puts her things on the desk, sits down, and takes off her sunglasses. ''Good morning, class'' she says, looking at each student carefully. ''Prepare your notebooks. Today we’re going to talk about the secrets of running a successful fashion magazine.''

Extract from the prospectus of Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design.

No, this isn’t another Hollywood movie about the crazy world of fashion. But it’s a scenario that’s not all that far from the truth for anyone studying at the new Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design in London, UK.* The college, owned by publishing giant Condé Nast, opened its doors on 15 April 2013, with the aim of preparing young professionals for a successful career in the fashion industry. Being aware of the highly competitive times we’re living in, Condé Nast is tapping into its vast professional network and international prestige in order to provide its college’s students with the very best in both practical training and theoretical background: apart from a core team of academic staff and mentors, students will attend workshops and guest talks by the most experienced and influential people in the industry, including CEOs of luxury brands, editors, art directors, designers and others. That said, the school’s objective is to provide its students with a wide-ranging knowledge about how the fashion industry works in order to then assist them in deciding which field of the industry they might want to work in.

The college building is designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS), the renowned British architecture firm - also in charge of the much-awaited refurbishment of the Festival Wing of Southbank Centre in London - and occupies two interconnected properties on Greek Street in Soho, previously occupied by Central St Martins College. On the outside, the building was given a brickwork facade to match the typical brick buildings of the area. Inside, the college features calm, all-white spaces amply lit through large windows, some of which open out onto an outdoor terrace. Designed with its students and their ambitions in mind, the college offers a state-of-the-art learning environment that is both inspirational and provocative. It has been shortlisted in the "Public Sector" category of the FX International Interior Design Awards, which are to be announced on 27 November 2013.

* Please note: Although we would all love the opportunity to sit in a classroom with Anna Wintour and hear what she has to say about running a successful fashion business, the introduction to this article is of course completely fictional. Please visit the Condé Nast College website for a complete list of its faculty members and other information.