AN OXFORD cancer support centre designed to look like a tree house has won a top architectural award.

The £3m Maggie’s Oxford Centre was lauded for its “humanity” by judges from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

It is one of seven buildings in four counties to win a RIBA South Regional Award this year, and the only one in Oxfordshire.

As a regional winner, it will go through to the national awards to be announced on June 18 and could be up for the RIBA Stirling Prize for best building of the year.

Centre head Claire Marriott said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won, especially as great design and architecture is so vital to the care Maggie’s Oxford offers. The centre is designed to create a calm and uplifting environment as well as providing a programme of support to strengthen the physical and emotional wellbeing of people with cancer and their family and friends.”

She added: “The beautiful design of the building by architects Wilkinson Eyre really delivers on this brief. It is a truly inspirational space.”

The centre at the Churchill Hospital site in Headington was completed in October.

RIBA said the design took an unpromising site and created “a place of sanctuary”. It was also praised for its sustainability.