John George Lloyd Houston was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1857. Soon after he moved to London, England where he was articled to James Edmeston (1823?-1898) in 1875. He also attended the Science and Art Schools in South Kensington, London and the Architectural Association Schools in London.
Having completed his articles, he remained with Edmeston as his assistant until 1886 when he commenced independent practice as an architect in London. In c.1893 he formed a partnership Harper & Harper with his brother, Alfred Charles Houston (1864-1927). They remained in partnership until c.1921
J.G.L. Houston was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1894. His address was given as 13 Furnival's Inn, London in 1894; 25 York Buildings, Adelphi, London in 1900; 24 Baron's Court Road, Fulham in 1901; 81 High Holborn, London in 1911 and 1914; and 5 Lansdowne Street, Hove, East Sussex in 1922 and 1929. He died in Brighton, Sussex on 13 December 1929
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001