A giant cinema in Glasgow has been voted Scotland's ugliest building in a competition run on the internet.

The UGC multi-screen building, due to open next year, topped a poll to earn the dubious distinction of being named "Carbuncle of the Year".

A panel of judges nominated a number of buildings in the annual competition organised by the architectural magazine Prospect and internet users were invited to cast their votes.

In a statement, the judges said of the UGC cinema: "The Gotham City qualities of this building make it a theatrical addition to Glasgow's centre but its opponents insist it is too big to fit comfortably within the city."

... but the cinema topped the poll

The architects, developer and client had "fallan at the last hurdle", the judges went on.

"It should have been a beacon. Instead, it looks like a retail unit on its side.

"The cladding, which seems to have been designed to appeal to the colour-blind, particularly disappointed the panel."

When completed, the cinema will have 18 screens on nine levels. It was to have been known as the Virgin Megaplex until the Virgin Entertainment Group was sold to UGC.

UGC Cinemas said the design had involved input from the Royal Fine Art Commission and Glasgow City Council.

Neil Baxter: "Cheap public relations"

"We are proud of the design, which includes strong visual facades, each intentionally different to identify its surroundings.

"We believe that the building will become an attractive landmark in an increasingly vibrant part of Glasgow."

As well as running the Carbuncle of the Year awards, the magazine is also touting for nominations for Scotland's "most dismal town".

The "winner" will be announced on Monday.

Suggestions so far include:

• Cumbernauld, which critics desrcibe as "joyless"

• Campbeltown "has nothing even approaching a hanging basket"

• Ardrossan "gives people the blues"

• Balloch is "just a blot on the landscape".

But architectural consultant Neil Baxter is unimpressed with the latter contest.

"They may argue that it's simply about aesthetics, it's simply about the look of a place," he declared.

"But it actually doesn't benefit anyone to condemn someone's town out of hand.

"I think it's just cynical and nasty and cheap, cheap public relations."