Italian couple's families seek to bring hope out of Grenfell tragedy

Gloria Trevisan and Marco Gottardi moved to London to start their respective careers as architects

Marco Gottardi and Gloria Trevisan were a young Italian couple in love who were following their dreams in London.

They lived on the top floor of Grenfell Tower in west London and had been in England for just a few months when they were both killed in the fire on 14 June 2017.

They were found in each other's arms, having died from smoke inhalation.

Like so many who suffered loss at Grenfell, Marco and Gloria's loved ones are frustrated about the ongoing "lack of accountability" over the fire and the long "wait for justice".

While work continues to take down the tower, their families have set up a foundation in Italy for young people with the same dreams as Marco and Gloria, who were both architects, to ensure Grenfell is not forgotten.

Marco Gottardi as young boy in Italy

Marco Gottardi, 27, and Gloria Trevisan, 26, both grew up in northern Italy.

Marco lived with his parents in San Stino Di Livenza. A quiet town close to Venice, surrounded by vineyards and waterways.

At their home, Marco's mother Daniela Burigotto says he was "very kind, calm and affectionate", an only child but "always surrounded by many friends".

Francesca Tolardo, Marco's childhood friend, describes him as "straight talking and always there when you needed him".

He was a much valued player at his local football club San Stino Di Livenza FC, according to coach Franco Formentin, who says Marco was "respectful and kind", before adding that they now run an annual tournament in his honour.

At the Scarpa–Mattei High School hangs a plaque dedicated to Marco, Gloria and the other Grenfell Tower victims in the main assembly hall.

Valeri Valeria, Marco's former teacher, says he was "a bright boy who  smiled with his eyes".

Gloria Trevisan as a young girl in Italy

Gloria's parents say hundreds attended her funeral in Camposampiero

Gloria Trevisan grew up in the town of Camposampiero near Padua.

"Marco and Gloria's funerals were within days of each other," says Gloria's mother Emaneula Disaro. "It was a double suffering."

Her father Loris Trevisan says she was also a "determined" and "focused" young woman, who was "very close to her family - her brother Julio and to us".

Gloria's family say she also had a real "gift" for art and design.

At the Modigliani technical college in Padua, a lecture hall is now dedicated to her and Marco.

"Gloria was meticulous," recalls retired lecturer Ruggero Guariento, "more like a professional than a student".

Marco Gottardi's parents in Venice where the couple met

After college, Marco and Gloria met while studying at the prestigious International University of Architecture in Venice, where they both achieved top grades in their bachelors and masters architecture degrees.

Prof Sara Di Resta taught the pair and says they were "two brilliant students with great technical knowledge".

Gloria Trevisan (l) with Andrea Brufatto and her partner Marco Gottardi in London

The couple wanted to start their careers in London and moved into flat 202 on the 23rd floor of Grenfell Tower.

"The tower looked beautiful - on the outside and inside," says Marco's dad, who visited the couple. "And it was in a great neighbourhood."

Marco's mum Daniela remembers the flat's "marvellous" views.

"I told Gloria you don't have to go out, you have the whole world all around you."

Marco's parents visited the couple in London and thought their flat had "marvellous views"

On the night of the fire the top floors of Grenfell Tower were the deadliest.

The fire started just before 01:00 BST in a flat on the fourth floor and spread up the exterior cladding to the roof in just half an hour.

Residents who rang 999 were told by the London Fire Brigade to remain in their flats.

For two hours Marco and Gloria spoke several times to their parents in agonising phone calls until they couldn't get through anymore.

The "stay put" advice was not officially revoked until 02:47. However, by that time the corridors were filled with thick black smoke.

"They repeatedly asked the firefighters to be able to go down," recalls Marco's mum Daniela. "When they gave the OK there was no longer any possibility of being able to do it."

Gloria's mother adds: "I have so much anger if I think about that night. I hope that things have changed and when there's a fire they absolutely have to evacuate. They cannot wait."

Her father Loris says: "Every day I have her in my head and in my heart. She is my first thought in the morning and last thought at night."

Marco Gottardi and Gloria Trevisan were each buried in their home towns. On Marco's grave stone are written the words 'Insieme Per Sempre' – Together Forever.

Gloria gave this picture she had painted to Marco as a present

"They were two good people who believed in London," says Marco's father Giannino Gottardi, "with clear ideas about how to make their dreams come true".

With the blessing and support of Gloria's family, Marco's parents created a charitable foundation called Grenfell Love to help aspiring architects through scholarships and bursaries.

The families also attend conferences for architects, engineers and builders to raise awareness around building safety in Italy.

Grenfell Love has helped many different local schools across the Veneto region, including some which Marco and Gloria went to.

At Marco's former secondary school in San Stino Di Livenza is a new computer classroom.

In Gloria's old primary school, the foundation funded a sensory room which supports children with special needs.

Architecture students in Venice also received bursaries to research their final thesis.

"It's important not just to recall the tragedy but to recall the dream," says Prof Sara Di Resta.

Marco and Gloria's parents want to see justice over Grenfell delivered in England.

While the families' work in Italy has created hope out of Grenfell, they're less hopeful of finding justice in the UK.

"There are so many different people involved," says Gloria's dad. "Public bodies, big companies, multinational corporations. I'm not sure anyone will be punished."

Gloria's mum adds: "I have this feeling they are trying to prolong it all as much as possible precisely to avoid prosecuting these people in some way."

Marco's mum Daniela finds it frustrating that many of the people and companies involved are still "operating as normal".

"It is difficult for a mother who has lost the most precious thing in the world to know that no-one is still paying after eight years."

Marco's dad says he is trying to remain positive: "We want to trust the English justice system.

"We accept it maybe be a long process, but hope it's a thorough process and the guilty are identified and punished."

Gloria Trevisan and Marco Gottardi moved to London in April 2017.

Grenfell Tower will be taken down over the next two years.

During that time, the Metropolitan Police is completing its investigation.

In theory when the tower is no longer standing, criminal trials over the fire could begin.

Grenfell Tower is being "carefully" taken down floor by floor

For some the sight of the building has been perpetual trigger for their trauma.

For others it should have been allowed to remain intact as long as possible until justice for the victims was achieved.

Gloria's parents have visited the Grenfell Tower site and understand why some believe "demolishing the tower is sacrilege".

Emanuela says she found it difficult to look at.

With the tower coming down, she adds: "We just want to make sure Gloria and Marco along with the other 70 victims are remembered."

Ongoing work is taking place to commission and create a memorial on the site of the tower.

Francesca says she and Marco's family hope its architecture and design will be "fitting" to what happened and the loss of so many people.

"As the Grenfell Love foundation we've always understood the tower had to come down. We want to see maybe 72 trees or 72 columns," she says. "Some water such as a fountain – a symbol against the fire."

Grenfell Tower is slowly disappearing from the London skyline, but the demands for justice and a fitting legacy and memorial remain.