Tandem

Dunluce Castle

People connect primarily with stories of other people, so we introduce Dunluce via its larger-than-life 17th-century inhabitants, as a continuous backdrop against which these people played out a drama of politics, upheaval and change. Interpretation across the site provides opportunities for ‘hands-on’, discovery learning, for children and adults alike to develop a personal connection to Dunluce and share in the site’s ongoing discovery.

The existing shop and reception area is now the welcoming ‘Dunluce Room’, introducing visitors to Dunluce’s broad themes and chronology. A 6-minute animated CGI movie sets the scene for the specific themes and characters visitors will encounter, while large, dramatically-angled panels create a ‘wow’ factor, encouraging them to spend time in the space. We produced a new scale model of the castle while reproduction dress-up clothing, discovery drawers, ‘3 Men’s Morris’ game and sliding tile puzzle provide further opportunities for interaction.

The existing exhibition area, now the ‘Archaeology Room’, was recreated as a ‘field office’ and challenges the view that archaeology is merely academic excavation. First-hand experiences of dig volunteers inform the narrative, while discovery drawers and an archaeological dig interactive give visitors a hands-on experience. A 5-minute film features the lead archaeologist walking around the site talking about his favourite discoveries and demonstrates how visitors can ‘read’ the landscape for themselves. Another scale model put the castle in the context of its broader landscape and recreated the town based on the most recent archaeological findings on the site.

We interpreted the site through audio, visual, and tactile means to enhance engagement across a range of learning styles and visitor types (from large coach tours to family groups). Cast bronze panels combine with a printed guide and Opus Touch AV handset, featuring guided tours with CGI animations where visitors view animations of the castle’s structures rebuilt before their eyes, to create an engaging and immersive visitor experience. We developed an adults’ tour and a children’s tour designed to run simultaneously, allowing families to explore an area together but to engage with it on different levels. A ‘hidden treasure’ element of the children’s tour encourages younger visitors to explore the site to find resin-cast replicas of artefacts discovered at Dunluce.

Scope

Content Mapping &
Conceptual Framework

Concept Planning &
Interpretive Theme Strategy

Project Management

Research, Scripting, &
Copywriting including
Educational Material

Image Research
& Cataloguing

AV Content & Touch
Screen Programming
including movies & CGI

Spatial Design &
Visitor Flow

Interpretive Design

Artefact Selection,
Mounting &
Display Cases

Stakeholder Reporting &
Steering Group Presentations