It’s official – the Eden Project in Cornwall is Britain’s favourite modern building, according to a new survey which placed it a clear winner out of a shortlist of 20.

The brainchild of Tim Smit, the Eden Project is a repository of tropical and sub-tropical plants housed in vast ‘biospheres’ built into an old mining quarry near St Austell.

The survey, carried out for ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, found Eden Project was way ahead with a 40% lead from 30 St. Mary Axe (the Gherkin) which attracted 14% of the vote in second place. The McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey came third.

The results from the nationwide poll highlighted the loyalty we have for our local buildings, demonstrating the importance of physical landmarks to a region’s identity. For example:

• Almost half of those in the Tyne Tees region favoured the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, a true icon of the North East.
• In Scotland, 45% of respondents said that the Scottish Parliament was their favourite modern building and, in Wales, it was the Cardiff Millennium Stadium, which came out top.
• Londoners meanwhile remained loyal to the Gherkin which has become one of the most famous additions to the capital’s skyline in recent years. As with the Eden Project, its highly original design has become a symbol of a new era in the development of the UK landscape.

Chief Executive of the Eden Project Tim Smit said: "Eden was built for the nation so obviously we’re tickled pink that it has found such a place in the heart of the great British Public."

"If there’s one thing that all the short listed projects have in common it is that they are sexy, challenging and inspiring. Britain is in the middle of a real flowering of creative talent in architecture, design and construction that is going to change the way we look at ourselves and our built environment forever."

The nation’s top ten favourite modern buildings were as follows:

1	Eden Project
2	30 St. Mary Axe (the Gherkin)
3	McLaren Technology Centre
4	Great Court, British Museum
5	Gateshead Millennium Bridge
6	Cardiff Millennium Stadium
7	Millennium Bridge, London
8	Scottish Parliament
9	Selfridges, Birmingham
10	Tate Modern