Sarner International, a leading experiential design expert, has been selected to design and deliver UNTOLD Stories of the Irish in the British Army. This new museum will unite six historic regimental collections housed in a restored listed linen warehouse in Belfast’s Linen Quarter, along with renovated galleries at Enniskillen Castle.
No. 28 Bedford Street, Phase One, is slated to become a premier cultural hub, with an anticipated opening in 2027.
With a collection that spans over 350 years, the project faces both a major opportunity and challenge: to consolidate fragile and varied collections, address contested histories with care, and foster a space where multiple voices are represented and respected.
The museum seeks to go beyond simply documenting military service by examining the broader human impact of conflict. It will highlight not only soldiers’ stories but also those of families and communities whose lives are affected by service and whose voices have often been overlooked.
At its core, the project aims to establish a space for dialogue and reconciliation, where intricate narratives of identity, service, and community can be shared and understood.
Storytelling and community engagement
These stories will be carefully intertwined to encourage reflection, empathy, and connection through an immersive and inclusive experience. In Phase One at No.28, the site’s own story will also be revealed, linking the building’s linen heritage to the broader social and industrial history of the city.
Sarner is collaborating with the client on the project’s development phase as they prepare to submit an application for funding to The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project fundamentally focuses on storytelling and community engagement. Co-designed with veterans, stakeholders, and communities, UNTOLD will offer an inclusive, audience-focused experience that welcomes complexity and creates a safe environment for dialogue. It highlights diverse perspectives while promoting mutual respect and understanding.
The project will carefully integrate a deep respect for the building’s historic character with modern immersive technologies to enhance the regimental collections. This will create a layered, multisensory, and thoughtfully curated experience that appeals to school groups, families, veterans, and international visitors alike.
Sarner welcomes the chance to deliver this project on a turnkey design and build basis, guaranteeing continuity and quality from start to finish. Leveraging Sarner’s in-house expertise in design, interpretation, audiovisual engineering, production, and installation, the team will shape the creative vision and oversee the entire process, ensuring a seamless experience from concept to opening.
Voices being heard
Bradley Wynne, creative director at Sarner International, says: “UNTOLD is about more than history on display. It is about voices being heard – sometimes for the very first time – and heard with sensitivity. The challenge is to weave together many complex strands into a coherent, authentic, and thought-provoking visitor experience.
“We are honoured to help bring this vision to life in Belfast’s Linen Quarter.”
Dr Laura Patrick, project director at UNTOLD: The Museum Ltd, adds: “After a competitive tender process, we are delighted to have appointed Sarner to support us on this journey. Their imaginative approach to how we bring our fascinating stories to a much wider audience has further inspired us as a team.
“The design team at Sarner have an innate ability to understand our need to highlight the collection for education purposes, but in a way that is immersive, engaging and accessible.
“We cannot wait to open the doors to our visitors in 2027.”
Sarner International also recently delivered a significant new upgrade to the climate exhibition at the internationally acclaimed Glacier Museum (Norsk Bremuseum) in Fjærland, Norway.
