The $1.3 million lantern-like building was competing with structures worth hundreds of millions of dollars, including the Wimbledon Centre Court redevelopment in London and the Atlantic Health Jets training facility in the United States.

Allen Jack+Cottier architect Michael Heenan was at the awards ceremony in Barcelona to hear the announcement made at 5.45am (AEDT).

"It's just really exciting," he said. "They said we were the clear winner and no commendations were given.

"It was amazing being in a hall full of 500 architects (when) it was announced the Berry recreation hall was clearly the most outstanding sports building.

"My feet haven't hit the ground."

Mr Heenan, who grew up in Mt Pleasant, said he was inspired by the endless night sky when he designed the hall.

The building comprises two long sides of pre-cast concrete panels, each pierced by 500 shards of glass in amoeba-like windows.

They allow natural light to flood the hall in the day and the interior lights to shine through at night, illuminating the building and making it slowly disappear into the starry sky as the sun sets.

"The Berry hall turned out to be the sparkling jewel in the crown (of the festival)," Mr Heenan said.

The architecture festival brought together more than 2000 architects and designers and 800 short-listed entries from 63 countries.

The Berry hall has also won the Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) Public Architecture Award and the Blacket Award for Regional Architecture in 2008.

It was a great day for Australian architecture with three other Aussie designs winning their categories.

Sydney firm Choi Ropiha was part of a consortium that won the old and new section for work on the $25 million redevelopment of Times Square.

Melbourne firm McBride Charles Ryan took the house category with its arresting Klein Bottle holiday house on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.

Overnight, the 15 winners were in the running to be named World Building of the Year which would be named early this morning.