A London architecture firm has established a meaningful scholarship program to honor two Italian architects who lost their lives in the devastating Grenfell Tower fire that claimed 72 victims. The initiative helps Italian architecture graduates work and study in the United Kingdom, continuing the legacy of Gloria Trevisan and Marco Gottardi, who had moved to London to pursue their architectural careers.
Gloria Trevisan, 26, had recently joined Peregrine Bryant Architects after graduating from the International University of Architecture in Venice. She was part of the original design team working on the refurbishment of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home to the Chelsea Pensioners. Tragically, she had been working at the office the day before she died and never got to see the completed project that would become her lasting professional contribution.
Peregrine Bryant, the firm's founder, recalled being "extremely impressed" when Gloria submitted her portfolio to the company, which specializes in heritage building conservation. "We generally agreed it was one of the best ones we'd ever had," he said. Following her interview, Gloria was immediately hired and began work on the Royal Hospital Chelsea project with great enthusiasm.
Fellow architect Laura Mourgante remembered visiting the Chelsea site with Gloria, who "took lots of pictures" and expressed her happiness about living in Grenfell Tower and working in conservation. "When we spent the day here, she told me, 'I have a beautiful flat, I have beautiful views of London, I'm so blessed,'" Laura recalled. "I left that day with this feeling of happiness that she was very happy, missing her mom and dad obviously but working in conservation with lots of energy - working hard and doing a good job."
On her final evening, Gloria worked late at the office, completing the first drawings of the Soane Stable Yard project. She spent her last day "doing something she loved," as Laura noted. Gloria had only been with the company for a couple of weeks, but Peregrine emphasized, "we treasure memories of her." Although Marco Gottardi worked at a different architecture firm in London, Peregrine Bryant Architects created The Gloria e Marco Award to remember both "very talented young architects."
The memorial award allows Italian architecture graduates to work and study in the UK for two to three months, fostering what Peregrine calls an "exchange of ideas." So far, graduates have worked on architectural conservation projects in England and Scotland with prestigious organizations including the National Trust, Historic England, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. "Gloria brought her ideas to us [in the UK] and so did Marco, and we are now continuing that process," Peregrine explained.
Many participating graduates come from the International University of Architecture in Venice, where both Gloria and Marco studied. Professor Sara Di Resta, who taught them both, emphasized the program's significance: "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, a close friend of the couple, noted that the scheme "shifts the focus from how they died to how they lived."
The Royal Hospital Chelsea project that Gloria helped initiate has since been completed and is now thriving. The historic building, originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century with stables added in the 19th century by Sir John Soane, had suffered damage during World War Two and remained unused for years. The refurbished Soane Stable Yard now features a cafe, gift shop, and museum dedicated to Chelsea Pensioners' history.
Peregrine shared the finished project photos with Gloria's and Marco's families in Italy, receiving deeply moving responses. Gloria's mother, Emanuela Disaro, expressed "incredible pride" for her daughter "working on a project of that scale." Her father, Loris Trevisan, added, "I'm so proud 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 acknowledged the lasting impact of Gloria's contribution, stating that "Ms. Trevisan's involvement in the project is something the Royal Hospital really values, and our thoughts remain with her family and friends." The scholarship program continues to operate, ensuring that Gloria and Marco's passion for architectural conservation lives on through future generations of Italian architects working in the UK.
