The £10 million transformation of Brighton and Hove Art Museum and Art Gallery has led to a prestigious award for architecture.

The museum was commended by the Civic Trust for its high standard of architecture after its extensive refurbishment.

The 19th Century museum has changed its face over the years, from the stables of George IV to today's award-winning modern arts centre.

During the refurbishment new rooms were added to the galleries, including Body, Performance and Discovery.

Body compares an ancient Egyptian make-up jar to a contemporary male corset, a Roman coffin portrait to a Spitting Image caricature.

Performance contrasts shows on Brighton's piers and street performers with old puppets and Japanese prints.

In the Discovery room children can explore themes of colour, sound, shape and light through interactive play and the senses.

In the first six months since the centre reopened in May, the number of visitors to the centre doubled compared to the six months before its closure.

More than 146,000 people flocked to the new entrance within the Pavilion Gardens to see the rejuvenated interior.

Martin Ellis, from the museum, said: "We reopened on the day the Brighton Festival began and the children's parade came right past the new entrance where the mayor was cutting the ribbon.

"From that day on the building was jammed with people right up until October, which was amazing."

He said the exterior looked better than ever but had not changed, while the interior had been transformed.

He said: "Moving the entrance from Church Street to the gardens means there is natural light in the building for the first time.

"It is now very light and airy, where it was much darker before.

"A lot of people were worried that features they liked would have changed. In fact, a lot of the original features have stayed but they can now be seen in a completely different light.

"For instance the tiling and the Indian features are still there but the whole way the building functions has improved.

"It wasn't a surprise to learn of the commendation because it was always such a highly-regarded project and there was a lot publicity in leading architect journals.

"We feel this has re-established this area as the central focus for the city - you can spend the entire day visiting the museum, the galleries, the tea rooms and the gardens."