The National Wallace Monument

We were appointed on a design and build contract to refurbish the galleries within The National Wallace Monument in Stirling as part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the building. Our brief was to ‘tell the story of William Wallace better than it has ever been told before’. To achieve this, we took visitors on a physical journey through the exhibition spaces using dynamic storytelling and innovative digital interpretation to build drama and encourage visitors to engage, explore and connect with Wallace’s story.

Client

Stirling District Tourism

Services

Interpretation Planning
Research and Copywriting
Exhibition Design
Graphic Design
Digital Design
Interactive Design
Shop Design
Design and Build
Project Management

Scottish Design Awards
Finalist, 2020

“Studioarc’s input to the Monument’s Anniversary year was truly exceptional. It was their creative approach, grounded in painstaking research and supported by innovative design solutions, along with their experience and professionalism, which enabled the transformation of the attraction to be successfully delivered.”

Les Perez, General Manager, Stirling District Tourism

Approach

The galleries within the Monument are split over three floors and we used this to structure the visitor journey, creating context, encouraging discovery and providing opportunity for reflection on Wallace’s legacy. Our approach to the interpretation was driven by the audience needs. With international visitors comprising 60% of the National Wallace Monument’s market, we provided interpretation in eight languages and took a highly visual approach to the displays. We created interactive and participative activities to meet the needs of both the international audience and the family market.

Designing for an international audience

At the centre of the Hall of Arms, on the first floor, we designed a new immersive film treatment which uses animation to deliver the powerful story of Wallace’s victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. The film was delivered in eight languages with a broadcast soundtrack. We also redisplayed the Wallace Sword, giving it dramatic presence and encouraged visitors to explore the evidence surrounding Wallace’s life through facsimiles of historical documents, portraits of Wallace and a timeline of key events in his life.

“Wonderful use of multi-media – amazing. The content is excellent and very well presented. We loved the interactive exhibits and thought the film on the first floor was amazing!”

Visitor Review

Creating context and understanding

We used the viewing vantage point on the top floor of the Monument to help visitors understand how the Battle of Stirling Bridge unfolded, illustrating how the strategic position of the Bridge, the River Forth and the flat carse created the conditions to help Wallace win the battle. We recreated how the landscape would have looked to Wallace in 1297 through capturing drone footage and working with illustrators and a team of experts to 3d model and recreate built features in the landscape as they may have appeared in the 13th century. Visitors can also design their own coat-of-arms, see it projected on to a 3d shield and then pose with it for a photo opportunity.