The parliament at Holyrood has received architectural kudos

The Andrew Doolan award is awarded annually by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland for the most impressive building.

Judges described the parliament - one of five buildings shortlisted - as "a magnificent achievement".

The winning design team, which includes the widow of the late Spanish architect Enric Miralles, receives �25,000.

The judges said the parliament was one of the most identifiable buildings in Europe, with a rich array of symbolism and complete public access.

Late completion

It took full advantage of its site and merged with the landscape as Miralles had intended.

They stressed that they had assessed the building design, not the controversy about the cost and late completion.

The judging panel was made up of Douglas Read, president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), David Porter, head of Glasgow's Mackintosh School of Architecture, Kathryn Findlay, from the University of Dundee and Anthony Reddy, president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.

Other contenders

The other projects on the shortlist were the A' Chrannag housing project in Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, the Community Centre for Health and the Sentinel Office Development in Glasgow and Phase One of the Edinburgh Quay project.

The award was named the RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture in 2004 in memory of its founder and patron, the architect Andrew Doolan, who died that year.

Previous winners are Dance Base in Edinburgh, An Turas on Tiree and Glasgow's St Aloysius College, Clavius Building - the 2004 best building.