THE best modern design in the south Hampshire area is being celebrated.

The shortlist for the Solent Design Awards has been announced and the public are being urged to vote for their favourite new building.

Sustainability and fitting in with surroundings are the key factors for the judges.

The seven buildings are:

• Civic offices at Eastleigh;

• St Alphege teaching block at Winchester University, by Design Engine;

• Burma Road student flats, Winchester University, by Architecture PLB;

• St Valentine’s Close in Winchester, by T2 Architects;

• Public square in Ringwood;

• The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth;

• New building at Ryde School, Isle of Wight.

The biennial Solent Design Awards are organised by the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), and once again sponsored by housing and construction company Bouygues UK.

They were initiated to encourage the building of places and spaces in which the community wanted to live and work and in which they had pride.

Paul Grover, of Portsmouth University, who has helped manage the awards said: “They all genuinely incorporate a ‘designed for all’ inclusivity and connectivity which, combined with the high level of sustainability, has been the aim of our Solent Design Awards since their inception.

“I’m particularly thrilled that our educational and civic buildings are being designed to be open and welcoming, and that courtyards, squares and gardens are integral to so many.

“I know personally just how important it is for teaching and living areas to be as flexible, serene and open as possible, and I’m particularly impressed that we have three very different educational schemes on our shortlist. It’s another excellent example of how architects and planners are coming together to build for the future.”

This year, there are three Awards: a Quality Places Award; a new Urban Design Award; and the People’s Choice Award.

Voting for the People’s Choice opens on October 13 and closes on November 3.

The winners will be announced at the Mary Rose Museum on November 20.