Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ), one of the largest and longest-established UK architectural and design firms in the UAE, said it had won two awards at the Africa & Arabia Property Awards ceremony.

GAJ’s winning entries included: DoubleTree by Hilton & Hilton Garden Inn, Riyadh, which won in the ‘Hotel Architecture’ category for Saudi Arabia; while Serenia Residences, The Palm won in the ‘Architecture Multiple Residence for Dubai’ category, said a statement from the company.

DoubleTree by Hilton & Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh is a dual-branded hotel with shared back-of-house facilities. For the team at GAJ, it was important that this duality was reflected in the architectural approach with each hotel having its own distinct identity and access but with the overall design still reading as one, it said.

The design was based on the two hotel masses interlocked to form a cube with the split between the hotel masses being expressed by a glazed slot. This glazing feature also provides views out to the city from the guest lift lobby on each of the DoubleTree floors and on the upper floors of the Garden Inn.

The Serenia Residences design explores the full potential of this Palm crescent site to create a signature 250-apartment development. Key to this project is the continuous flow of form and space that provides both a stimulating physical and visual experience as residents and guests move around the project, it added.

Now in its 26th year, the property awards are judged by an independent panel of 70 industry experts. Judging focuses on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability. The judging panel is chaired by Lord Caithness, Lord Best, The Earl of Liverpool, and Lord Thurso, members of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament.

In addition to the regional win, GAJ will also now compete against the best property professionals across the other regions to be recognised in the ‘Architecture Multiple Residence’ and ‘Hotel Architecture’ categories later this year, said a statement.

Brian Johnson, managing partner of GAJ, said: “It is always an honour to be recognised for our work by an international organisation and we are thrilled that two of our projects have won in their respective categories at the event.”

“Equally, it is great to have the talent and capabilities of our team recognised in an international arena,” it added. – TradeArabia News Service