Bringing the past to life when there are only limited visual cues is a significant challenge for heritage sites. Visitors expect to see grand buildings with splendid interiors—lavish furnishings, opulent furniture, and stunning decoration. But what happens when a room has been stripped bare by fire, pillage, or ruin, leaving only a cold stone floor and an unframed window?

When little is visible, it's hard to give visitors a sense of what a space was once like. Here are our top tips for animating an empty space using handheld multimedia experiences.

Top Tips for Animating Empty Spaces

1. Recreate the Sound of a Scene 🎧

Soundscapes are an excellent way to bring atmosphere to a room, especially when you have evidence—or at least a good hunch—about the space’s former use. Creating a soundscape is like making an auditory collage: you blend historically authentic sound effects, music, and snippets of voices to create a continuous background sound.

This sound can be delivered through in-room speakers (continuously or triggered by entry) or via portable headphones. Soundscapes work well in any space, from conveying a moment of quiet solitude to recreating a grand event like a concert or a coronation.

2. Put on a Party 🎉

If the space was once used for social gatherings, recreate the sound or visuals of a celebration, such as a banquet or feast. For example, at Eltham Palace in London, we filmed a 1930s band for use on the handheld multimedia guide, helping visitors step back in time and get into the party spirit.

3. Quote Me 🗣️

Use first-person quotations from real historical figures. When read aloud by character actors or voice-over artists, these snippets from letters, diaries, or speeches add a layer of authenticity. Overheard backroom chats between household staff can be fun, but an argument is often even better for engagement! Always make it clear whether the words are authentic or if a little creative licence has been used.

4. Focus on What Visitors Can See 👀

Even if the room looks bare, there is often some small detail that can act as a starting point for commentary. Historic graffiti carved into wood or stone, for instance, provides a direct link to the people of the past and is a great hook for storytelling.

You can also use the power of place by asking visitors to stand where history happened. Direct them to look out of a window and encourage them to paint a picture in their minds of what the landscape or view looked like centuries ago.

5. Use Augmented Reality (AR) 📱

It's now easier than ever to show people what a space once looked like on a handheld device. Visitors can hold up their phones or tablets and move them around the room, amazed as they see the original wall coverings, fixtures, and fittings virtually appear on the screen.

Storytelling and Tone

Keep it Focused

One of the golden rules of audio guide writing is to avoid writing about what the visitor cannot see. Where there’s little to view, you must use creativity, but don’t let it get out of hand. All content must be directly related to the property and the learning outcomes set for the project.

Play on the Emptiness of a Space

Sometimes, a pared-back commentary delivered effectively by a skilled narrator is most potent. You can use the emptiness to your advantage: tell a spooky story accompanied by a creaking door and a hooting owl, and you’ll send a chill right down the visitor’s spine.

Great storytelling is at the heart of what we do. The expert teams at ATS can advise on the best way to bring your story to life for your visitors. Please get in touch and we can discuss how ATS can help with your next project!