Hastings Pier in East Sussex, devastated by fire in 2010, has beaten five other venues to win the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize.
The architecture award comes a little over a year since the pier reopened.
RIBA president Ben Derbyshire described the pier as “stunning and flexible” and as “a masterpiece of regeneration”.
Local people contributed to the cost of the project, 3,000 shareholders buying £100 stakes in the pier, part of a wider £590k crowdfunding campaign. The bulk of the £14.2m cost, however, came from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The designers dRMM Architects were recognised at a ceremony in London, 31 October.
The new design includes a stark wooden deck nicknamed The Plank, as well as a café bar and visitor centre.
The usual kiss-me-quick seaside clutter has been replaced by a blank canvas platform that has proven to be well suited to hosting a range of events activities.
Bouncy castles, carousels and concerts can all be brought in by organisers.
