The glass-fronted building was praised by judges

The �22m Laban dance centre in Deptford, which opened in February, has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Stirling Prize in a ceremony in Bristol.

With its layered transparent clear and coloured glass panels, the judges said the centre made a major contribution to artistic life as well as helping regenerate Deptford Creekside.

They described it as an "extraordinarily fine building, one that raises the expectations of architecture".

This year's Stirling Prize shortlist In pictures

The centre was created by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron who redeveloped the Bankside power station into the Tate Modern.

They were given a cheque for �20,000 at an award ceremony in the science centre, Explore@Bristol, on Sunday.

The building is one of the world's biggest purpose-built centres for contemporary dance and includes 13 dance studios, a 300-seat theatre, library and caf�.

It also works with young people from the surrounding areas of Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark and has classes for local parents and toddlers.

Director Anthony Bowne said it was helping regenerate the area as an artistic centre along with other projects such as Trinity College of Music and the Art in Perpetuity Trust.

The immediate impact on everyone as we arrived was to go 'wow' Judge Julian Barnes

He said: "This area is becoming a real hotbed of creativity, creative industries and the arts. We were the first in and now all around us things are happening."

One of the judges, novelist Julian Barnes, said: "It hits you straight between the eyes as soon as you get there.

"It has the same movement, youth, agility, front to it that its students have, it's very seductive.

"The immediate impact on everyone as we arrived was to go 'wow'."