A SCIENTIFIC research building at Southampton University has won a sought-after architecture award.

The hi-tech Mountbatten Building, which replaced one destroyed by fire in 2005, is one of just two Hampshire buildings and only six in the entire south of England to win the award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

New Forest-based practice John Pardey Architects was also honoured for Hind House in Berkshire.

The four-bed home was also shortlisted for the Grand Designs Best New House in Britain Award and takes the firm’s total of international design awards to 27.

The other Hampshire winner is Burnham Copse Primary School in Tadley, which was designed by the county council’s in house architects.

The projects now go on to be considered for the RIBA Stirling Prize, which is awarded to the architects of the building that has made the greatest contribution to British architecture in the past year.