Cabe praises ‘accomplished’ Herzog & de Meuron design for its architectural qualities and ‘rigorous’ sustainability strategy

Herzog & de Meuron’s extension to the Tate Modern has been given the green light by Southwark council.

The £215m brick pyramidoid building received high praise both from the planning authorities and Cabe, the government’s design watchdog.

Councillor James Gurling, the committee chair for Southwark council, said: “This challenging and iconic extension will not only help people move around the exhibitions in greater comfort but also guide them outside to enjoy the lovely public space in Bankside and other parts of Southwark.”

Cabe was barely less fulsome in its praise, calling Herzog & de Meuron’s building a “first rate addition to London’s contemporary architecture” and singling out its “formal and rigorous sustainability strategy” which it said was “very accomplished”.

Last year, the building’s design underwent a radical transformation from its original incarnation as a stack of glass boxes. Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota said at its unveiling in July it was a “more mature response to the brief”.

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