Residents overlooked by Tate Modern extension should 'get net curtains'

You have paid £4.5m for a luxury London flat with floor to ceiling windows and glorious views across the Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral. So do you want to put up net curtains? Residents in the block Neo Bankside should consider it if they want their privacy to be maintained.

            They are the nearest neighbours to Tate Modern’s £260m extension; some are little more than 20 metres away and they have found themselves directly overlooked by visitors to Tate Modern’s 10th floor viewing gallery which opened in June.

            On Wednesday, Mr.Serota, the director of Tate, said there was a simple solution open to residents. He said privacy would “be enhanced if those people decided that they might put up a blind or a net curtain, as is common in many places”. He added: ”I need to repeat the fact that clearly people purchasing those flats were in no doubt that Tate Modern was going to build its new Switch House building. People purchased with their eyes wide open.”

            Serota said Tate had put up signs encouraging visitors “not to gesticulate, to recognise that people who live nearby have a right to some privacy”.

            A resident entering the lobby with two children said the living room of her rented flat faced directly on to the restaurant. “It’s quite horrible,because I have young girls and there are strangers looking in” she said. “At first, we thought it may be offices. It’s no fun … I counted 50 people looking at me when I was in my house.”

            The Southwark Liberal Democrat councillor, Adele Morris, has tried to help find a solution. She called Serota’s comments an insult, saying: “I think that is an atrocious comment for a man of his position to make. A director of a big, public institution making a flippant comment like that about something which he knows is directly affecting people’s lives and their privacy”

            Tate is declining to make any changes to its viewing terrace which is open to 6pm for five nights and 10pm Friday and Saturday. In a statement, it said: “The Viewing Level is an intrinsic part of the free public offer of the new building, providing a 360-degree experience that is virtually unique to London. Since the very first plans were drawn up in 2007, we have been through an extensive consultation and planning process and have maintained an ongoing dialogue with local residents.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Residents have decided to put up curtains in their flats.

b. Museum goers are advised to respect neighbours.

c. Residents are specially worried about their families intimacy.

d. Visits to the viewing gallery are included in the museum ticket price.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What are the arguments given by the director of the gallery?

b. What are the main worries of residents?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. to improve (par.3)                 b.  entrance (par.5)                               c. frivolous (par.6)

d. to turn down (par.7)              e. continuous (par.7)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. It’s quite horrible because I have young girls.

            If I didn't...

b.  “At first, we thought it may be offices. I counted 50 people looking at me when I was in my house.”, she said.

            She said that at first...

c. They have maintained an ongoing dialogue with local residents.

            An ongoing...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Some people prefer living in town whereas others prefer the countryside. What option would you choose?