Thirty-five years ago, Brian Johnson took a pivotal step in his architectural career by entering an international competition to design the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. His previous success with the Emirates Golf Club had positioned him as a leading architect in the region, and his innovative design for the Dubai Creek project won him the competition. This victory prompted Johnson to establish a permanent office in Dubai, where he and his team immediately began work on the Dubai Creek Golf Clubhouse and the Creek Yacht Club.
Following this early success, Johnson’s reputation quickly grew, leading to further prestigious commissions, including the Palm Tree Court extension at the Jebel Ali Resort. His previous work on Dubai College in 1978 also brought him back into the education sector, as the school requested his expertise once more. This, coupled with collaborations on high-profile hospitality projects such as the One&Only Royal Mirage and Bab al Shams Desert Resort, set the stage for Godwin Austen Johnson’s (GAJ) focus on hospitality and education projects in the years that followed.
Over the decades, GAJ has become the design firm of choice for a wide range of distinguished projects across the Middle East. Their portfolio includes the design of VIDA and The Palace Hotel, the Al Seef Dubai development, numerous university and cultural projects for HH The Ruler of Sharjah, as well as educational institutions like Dubai College, Dubai Sports City, and Arcadia Schools. The firm has also left its mark on the hospitality industry with projects such as The Chedi Al Bait, Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa in Abu Dhabi, the Warner Bros Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali Palm Tree Court, and the DoubleTree by Hilton & Hilton Garden Inn in Riyadh. These projects have earned GAJ a multitude of design awards and solidified its reputation as a leader in the industry.
Today, Godwin Austen Johnson boasts a team of 110 dedicated professionals working on a diverse array of projects throughout the region. From contemporary and traditional hotels to modern residential towers and education facilities, the firm continues to build on its legacy with a solid portfolio of iconic projects and a strong network of clients across the Middle East and North Africa.
In addition to its architectural achievements, GAJ has developed several internal departments that complement its core practice. Among these is a fully functioning MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) team, which has evolved over the years to become one of the most respected in the region.
Reflecting on the firm’s journey, Brian Johnson commented, “I look back on the last 35 years of the practice with immense satisfaction in what we have achieved and the many talented colleagues who have worked with us over the decades. I am proud to see former colleagues go on to establish their own businesses or take on senior roles in international organizations. We have an extremely impressive list of alumni in all consultancy fields across the region and beyond. Equally, many of the team members we have with us today have been with the firm for many years, with some even rejoining us after time away.”
As GAJ celebrates its 35th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the firm’s enduring commitment to excellence in design and its significant contributions to the architectural landscape of the Middle East.
