More than a third of the 1,111 people surveyed thought Birmingham had the country’s ugliest buildings. On this I could be persuaded to concur, but the Bullring is certainly not one of them.

I’m not sure who was surveyed for this poll, but as the Liver Building in Liverpool made it into the ugly list I think we can all conclude that the entire thing was a wasted exercise. To name one of Liverpool’s most instantly recognisable and attractive pieces of architecture as one of the ten ugliest buildings in the UK is madness. Why not chuck the Houses of Parliament in there if the aim of the game is stirring up a bit of controversy?!

To make a point, here’s my snappily-titled list of Five Buildings Far Uglier Than The Bullring Or The Liver Building…

1. Any of the countless identikit city centre apartment buildings lying empty across the country

2. The Blackpool Tower

3. Dover Ferry Terminal

4. Manchester Arndale Centre

5. Gateshead Shopping Centre/Car Park

I think EA should stick to making PlayStation games and leave architectural surveys to 4Homes – you can vote for your favourite UK landmark on the right hand side of any of our architecture pages…

The bookies are currently making the Manchester Civil Justice Centre the favourite but the Stirling Prize judges often throw us a curve ball and there’s no reason to expect different in 2008. It sounds very cheesy but from what I’ve read about the nominees, whichever building wins will be richly deserving of such a sought-after prize.

You can find out more about the Stirling Prize nominees and judges on 4Homes, and you can catch the full RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on October 12th on Channel 4. In the meantime, let me know who you think should walk away with the RIBA Stirling Prize 2008…