Johanna Gibbons
Johanna Gibbons FLI RDI FRSA is a British landscape architect and founding partner of the practice J & L Gibbons.[1] Her work focuses on urban greening, ecological networks, and the relationship between people and landscape.
Trained at Edinburgh College of Art under David Skinner, a disciple of Design with Nature author Ian McHarg.[2]
Career
In 1986 Johanna founded J&L Gibbons based in London, UK.[2] She is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute and The Royal Society of Arts.[3]
She is a Research Partner of Urban Mind[4] and panel advisor to Historic England.[3] She has an international profile as a member of the International Scientific Committee for the World Forum on Urban Forests and as a design juror for Europan[5] and the Holcim Foundation[6] committed to sustainable design.
In 2019, she launched Landscape Learn[7] a social enterprise founded by J & L Gibbons that provides cross-disciplinary and immersive landscape education.
As of November 2025, she has been elected as the next Master of the Royal Designers for Industry. [8] The first Landscape Architect to hold this role.
Notable projects
- Natural History Museum Urban Nature Project (2020-present) designed with Feilden Fowles Architects, transforms the gardens into a centre for urban biodiversity research, education, and conservation.[9]
- John Morden Centre at Morden College (2019-2021) in Blackheath with Mæ Architects combines new buildings and gardens with historic almshouses and mature trees to provide healthcare and social spaces. Won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2023.[10]
- Bushey Cemetery, Hertfordshire (2017) was redesigned by J & L Gibbons with Waugh Thistleton Architects, creating a tranquil woodland burial ground was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2018.[11]
- Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London (2010) transformed a former railway line into a community garden and cultural space.[12] Won the Landscape Institute President Award in 2011. In 2025, the park won the neighbourhood park award from World Urban Park.[13]
- Oxford Street, London (2025) working with lead architects Hawkins Brown and others in developing designs for the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street.[14]
References
- ^ "jlg-london". jlg-london.com. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
- ^ a b Hartman, Hattie (2021-06-23). "AJ Climate Champions podcast: Landscape architect Jo Gibbons on greening our cities". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ a b "Landscape Institute". my.landscapeinstitute.org. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "About | Urban Mind". www.urbanmind.info. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "International Jury - europan". europan.at. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "Johanna Gibbons". www.holcimfoundation.org. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "Landscape Learn". Landscape Learn. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
- ^ Team, Editorial (2025-02-03). "Johanna Gibbons elected as first landscape architect to lead the Royal Designers for Industry". Architecture Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ Young, Eleanor (2025-06-24). "Gardens for the ages radically reframe the Natural History Museum". www.ribaj.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "John Morden Centre". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "Bushey Cemetery". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "Making Space in Dalston". my.landscapeinstitute.org. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "World Urban Parks Announced Winners of the WUP@10 Awards 2025 – World Urban Parks". Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ Lowe, Tom. "City Hall appoints Hawkins Brown and East on Oxford Street pedestrianisation plan". Building. Retrieved 2025-11-01.