Alan Berman (1949 – 2025)

Associate Fellow Alan Berman passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday 17 September 2025 at the age of 76. Alan is remembered by friends and colleagues as a deep thinker who lived life fully and energetically. Across the community he was perhaps best known for his warm and engaging personality.

Alan was a long-standing member of the college and served as an invaluable voice on the Buildings Committee from 2017 to 2024. He founded the architecture practice Berman Guedes soon after graduating from Cambridge and London schools of architecture. He formed BGS Architects when he moved to Oxford. The practice won numerous awards for their contemporary design in historic contexts.

Alan had a strong reputation across the collegiate university for working creatively and respecting architectural history. His relationship with GTC began when he sought help with researching the connection between hand-drawing and spatial understanding. Later in his career, Alan acted as an advisor to clients, helping them from selecting an architect to writing a brief and monitoring the design team’s work. It was in this capacity that he generously lent his expertise to the college.

Alan loved writing and with his knowledge of architectural history he wrote books about construction materials, ecological design and the architects James Stirling and Ted Cullinan. He lectured both in the UK and internationally. Alan also initiated the AJ Writing Prize to encourage young architects to think about the nature of the architects’ role in society.

The thoughts of college members are with Alan’s wife, Alison, and daughters Philippa and Zoë. Please let the fellowship team know if you would like them to pass on any messages or tributes; or to be notified of memorial arrangements in due course.