A restoration and interpretation design scheme, working alongside a National Lottery Heritage Fund advisor
I was commissioned to design several room treatments for the historic Guildhall – a heritage centre and event space which has had multiple uses over eight centuries!
I also had to create multiple interactive interpretation solutions to reflect the historic story in each space.
Lobby area
This connecting lobby area was to become a visual spectacle of historical timepieces and modern-day clocks.
Court Room
I saw this transformed into a flexible gallery space and dressing-up area, with large books and scrolls displaying information, and directional signage. Uses include:
• Re-enactments by local amateur dramatic society members
• Dressing-up box for children to interact with
• Access to walk-up gallery to the ops room
Banqueting Hall
I saw this as a flexible space that could host temporary, historical exhibitions – for example, with moveable display cases – as well as being a hall that could be hired out for events, schools activity etc. All my ideas were inspired by the historical value of the building.
Observer Corps ops room
The only remaining Royal Observer Corps centre in the country, this room helped to protect Suffolk during WWII, relaying vital information to RAF crews at local air bases.
I saw that this history could be brought to life through devices like old-fashioned phones (where visitors pick up handsets to listen to information), images of people in WWII outfits projected on to wall on balcony level, etc.
