East Beach Cafe was designed to improve as it rusts

East Beach Cafe in Littlehampton, Sussex, was one of 30 buildings to be recognised at the Civic Trust Awards ceremony, held in Newcastle.

Judges described the "iconic" building, made of a rusting steel shell, as an "amazing structure".

The Lightbox gallery and museum in Woking, Surrey, and Kent University's Medway Building also received awards.

Imaginative replacement

The Civic Trust said the awards recognised culturally, socially or economically beneficial buildings, which make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the environment.

East Beach Cafe, which was designed by Heatherwick Studio in London and constructed by Littlehampton Welding, creates an architectural attraction on the beach, according to judges.

The panel said: "This new caf� building imaginatively replaces a traditional seafront kiosk.

"This will no doubt become an iconic structure for Littlehampton."

Judges said the Medway Building compliments the naval architecture

The Lightbox cultural centre in Woking, designed by Marks Barfield Architects, opened in September 2007.

Judges said the Lightbox's "bold" design was "likely to become a popular landmark for Woking".

Lightbox director Marilyn Scott said: "We feel absolutely delighted. It's a great accolade for the architects but it is also really great for us.

"The building has helped us enormously to attract people to find out what we are doing."

The Medway Building is the flagship development for Kent University's Chatham campus.

The Civic Trust said the "visually striking" brass clad building has "weathered to a richness which compliments" the historic naval architecture nearby.

Philip Kolvin, chairman of the Civic Trust, said: "We are proud that the Awards encompass such a wide range of schemes, and allow commercial developments to compete with community projects in providing better places for people."