The owners of four luxury apartments in London with a view of the Tate Modern’s viewing platform prevailed in a privacy suit over the gallery’s viewing platform.
Residents of Neo Bankside filed legal action against the “hundreds of thousands of people” who peered inside their homes.
The Court of Appeal denied their petition in February 2020, stating that they should “lower their solar blinds.”
Following a hearing in December 2021, however, the Supreme Court reversed the ruling on Wednesday.
The five residents sought an order requiring the gallery to “cordon off” portions of the platform or “erect screening” to prevent the public from witnessing their apartments.
They appealed to the UK Supreme Court after losing at the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Lord Leggatt ruled that the momentarily shuttered viewing gallery made inhabitants feel like “zoo animals.”
It is not difficult to picture how oppressive it would feel to live under such conditions, he continued.
“Relentless” infiltration
The 2016-built platform offers a panoramic of London and a direct look inside the glass-fronted apartments.
The owners of the apartment said it was a “relentless” infringement of their privacy and sought an injunction the following year.
Since then, the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the apartment owners, 3–2.
Lord Leggatt stated that the case will be remanded to the High Court to seek a resolution for the flat owners.
The residents were “pleased and relieved,” according to Natasha Rees, a partner at Forsters LLP who represented them.
She said that they would collaborate with the Tate to “find a workable solution that safeguards all parties’ interests.”
The Tate was requested for comment.
