Pallant House Gallery in Chichester won the £100,000 Gulbenkian prize for museums and galleries at a ceremony held at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.

The art gallery was awarded the coveted prize for sensitively and imaginatively designing an £8.6m modern gallery extension in sympathy with the main Queen Anne House building.

Long and Kentish in association with Prof. Sir Colin St John Wilson, who sadly died two weeks ago, created the design.

Francine Stock, chair of the judges, said: “Its brilliance lies not only in its thoughtful and intelligent curation but in the warmth and welcome of the building. There’s nothing elitist about the way this fine collection is displayed – intimate yet with space for reflection.”

The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, individual donors, trusts and foundations, Chichester District Council, Arts Council England and Friends of Pallant House.

The other four finalists were Kew Palace in London, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow and Weston Park Museum in Sheffield. Last year’s award was won by Bristol Dockyard Museum SS Great Britain.