Brian Johnson Email & Phone Number

Brian Johnson is the Principal and Managing Partner of GAJ Architects (Godwin Austen Johnson). The British architect began his career in London in 1973 and in 1975 he and his wife decided that they would like to work abroad for a few years before settling down.They chose Dubai, where Brian worked for a small firm for three months before the principal announced that he was leaving Dubai for personal reasons, resulting in him asking his old partnership to join him in the establishment of a new practice in Dubai to take advantage of the exciting opportunities that he could see in the region. He was Managing Partner of this practice until 1989 when he left to join a long-established UK practice and established GAJ. With more almost 40 years of regional experience to his name, Brian’s influence on modern Middle Eastern architecture is undeniable. His body of work comprises some of Dubai’s most recognisable and prized buildings. Among them is the Dubai Creek Golf Club, widely recognised as one of Dubai’s first architectural icons – so much so it features on the 20 dirham note.Recognised as one of the more distinguished architects in the region, Brian is credited with having set in motion a countrywide trend in the UAE to incorporate traditional Arabic and Islamic themes into modern architecture. His award winning practice now employs 180 talented staff from 22 nationalities, with projects across the UAE, along with a portfolio of projects ranging from Morocco and Egypt to the west and to Oman and India to the east.His distinctive style and uncompromising resolve for design excellence has made Brian and his company GAJ a preferred partner for many dignitaries in the region and resulted in several of his projects receiving major architectural awards, as well as he himself being awarded with the title of ‘Principal of the Year’ in 2011.

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  Managing Partner

  Godwin Austen Johnson

  Jan 1989 - Present

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  Newcastle University

  B A In Architectural Studies And B.Arch