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POWER LIST | COVER STORY
BRIAN JOHNSON
MANAGING PARTNER
GODWIN AUSTEN JOHNSON (GAJ)
Principal and managing partner of GAJ, Brian Johnson
picked up the 2011 MEA Principal of the Year
Award, and was described by the panel as “an icon of
the Middle Eastern architectural landscape”.
The British architect began his career in London in
1973 before moving to Dubai in 1975 where he began
working for a small firm. Three months later, when
the principal announced he was leaving Dubai, Johnson
asked his old partnership to join him in the establishment
of a new practice in Dubai to take advantage
of the exciting opportunities in the region.
Johnson was managing partner of this practice
until 1989 when he left to join a long-running UK
practice and established the GAJ headquarters in
Dubai in 1991. Fast forward to 2012 the practice has
over 160 staff with Architectural, Interior Design and
MEP departments.
With more than 30 years of regional experience
to his name, Johnson’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.
Johnson is recognised as one of the more distinguished
architects in the region and is credited with
orchestrating a countrywide trend to incorporate
traditional Arabic and Islamic themes into modern
architecture. He is also known for his distinctive style
and uncompromising resolve for design excellence.
Dubai Creek
Golf Club
(top); Bab Al
Shams (above
left); Arabian
Court (above
right).
www.designmena.com | 12.12 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT 29