Sarner has been appointed to design and deliver UNTOLD Stories of the Irish in the British Army. This new museum will bring together six regimental collections within a restored listed linen warehouse in Belfast’s Linen Quarter and redesigned galleries at Enniskillen Castle. No. 28 Bedford Street, Phase One, is scheduled to open in 2027.
With a collection spanning more than 350 years, the project represents both a significant opportunity and a challenge: to consolidate fragile and disparate collections, to tell contested histories with sensitivity, and to create a space where multiple voices are represented and respected.
More than a record of military service, the museum will explore the wider human impact of conflict - recognising not only the stories of soldiers, but also those of families and communities whose lives were shaped by service and whose voices have too often been overlooked.
At its heart, the project seeks to create a space for dialogue and reconciliation, where complex narratives of identity, service, and community can be shared and understood. Through an immersive and inclusive experience, these stories will be sensitively woven together to encourage reflection, empathy, and connection. Phase One at No.28 will also reveal the story of the site itself, connecting the building’s linen heritage to the wider social and industrial history of the city.
Sarner is working with the client on the project’s development phase in preparation for submitting a delivery round application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Storytelling and community engagement sit at the heart of the project’s vision. Co-designed with veterans, stakeholders, and communities, UNTOLD will offer an inclusive, audience-centred experience that embraces complexity and creates a safe space for dialogue. It will bring multiple perspectives to the fore while promoting mutual respect and understanding.
The project will thoughtfully balance deep respect for the building’s historic fabric with the latest immersive technologies to augment the regimental collections, creating a layered, multisensory, and sensitively curated experience that resonates with school groups, families, veterans, and international visitors alike.