Grenfell fire victims honoured by London architects firm

A London firm has honoured two of the Grenfell Tower fire victims by setting up a scheme to help Italian architecture graduates work and study in the UK.

Architect Gloria Trevisan had moved from Italy to England with her boyfriend and fellow architect Marco Gottardi. They both died in the devastating tower block fire which claimed the lives of 72 people.

Gloria had just started work at Peregrine Bryant Architects and was part of the original design team for the refurbishment of the Royal Hospital Chelsea – home to the Chelsea Pensioners.

She had been working there the day before she died, and never got to see the completed project.

Gloria Trevisan, 26, moved to England after graduating from the International University of Architecture in Venice. She and her boyfriend and fellow architect Marco Gottardi lived in a flat on the top floor of Grenfell Tower.

Peregrine Bryant said he was “extremely impressed” when Gloria sent in her portfolio for his company which specialises in the conservation of heritage buildings.

“We generally agreed it one of the best ones we’d ever had,” he said.

Following an interview, Gloria was immediately hired and started work on a project at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Fellow architect Laura Mourgante says she and Gloria visited the site in Chelsea together.

Gloria “took lots of pictures” and told Laura how happy she was to be living in Grenfell Tower and working in conservation.

“When we spent the day here,” remembers Laura, “she told me, ‘I have a beautiful flat, I have beautiful views of London, I’m so blessed’.

“I left that day with this feeling of happiness that she was very happy, missing her mum and dad obviously but working in conservation with lots of energy – working hard and doing a good job.”

That evening Gloria worked late at the office, finishing off the first drawings of the Soane Stable Yard project.

But she didn’t return to work the next day.

Laura says Gloria, who had only been with the company a couple of weeks, spent her last day “doing something she loved”.

“She was only with us for a very short time,” adds Peregrine. “But we treasure memories of her.”

After the fire, the company set up a scholarship scheme to continue the link between Italian and British conservation.

Although Marco worked at a different architects firm in London, they set up The Gloria e Marco Award to remember the “two very talented young architects”.

“Gloria and Marco will remain in our hearts forever,” says Peregrine. “And will be remembered by our practice with great sadness. But out of that we are trying to make something positive.”

The award allows Italian architecture graduates to work and study in the UK for two to three months.

So far, the graduates have worked on architectural conservation projects in England and Scotland with the National Trust, Historic England and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

Peregrine said: “We feel that exchange of ideas in their memory is a very positive one.

“Gloria brought her ideas to us [in the UK] and so did Marco and we are now continuing that process.”

Laura added: “It’s so important for us to do this and we must do it for as long as we can with all our energy.”

Many of the graduates have come from the International University of Architecture in Venice where Gloria and Marco both studied.

Prof Sara Di Resta, who taught them both, said: “It is important to not recall only the tragedy but to recall the dream of Marco and Gloria and this is a piece of the dream living in other young people.”

GeM Award trustee Andrea Bruffato and close friend of the couple says the scheme is really important because it “shifts the focus from how they died to how they lived”.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea was originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th Century and the stables were added in the 19th Century by Sir John Soane who also designed the Bank of England.

They originally housed the horses and carriages belonging to Royal Hospital staff. Some of the buildings were damaged in World War Two and for years lay unused.

The refurbishment Gloria started work on opened last year and is thriving.

The Soane Stable Yard has a cafe, gift shop and museum about the history of the Chelsea Pensioners.

“It’s nice to be here,” says Peregrine. “And remember Gloria who was here at the start of the process.”

I showed pictures of the finished project to Gloria’s and Marco’s parents in Italy.

Gloria’s mother Emanuela Disaro said she felt “incredible pride” for Gloria “working on a project of that scale”.

“I’m so proud,” added Gloria’s father Loris Trevisan, “to see how the project started and how it’s been finished – I’m really impressed”.

Marco’s father Giannino Gottardi said: “This is a beautiful restoration of an important historic building and brings Gloria to life.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Hospital Chelsea said: “Ms Trevisan’s involvement in the project is something the Royal Hospital really values, and our thoughts remain with her family and friends.”