The 15th-century dwelling, popularly known as John Knox’s House (although Knox never actually lived there), is one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh and since 1853 has been a museum, currently telling the story of the reformation in Scotland. At the time of going to print it was not clear how the present displays within the visitor attraction would be affected.
City of Literature Trust and their partners are now undergoing preparatory work for the new project, with the aim of creating a Literature House by 2022, which, they explain, would ‘be a unique and comprehensive interpretation, education and information point, providing a gateway into Scotland’s rich and diverse literary story’.
The Trust issued a call for respondents to design and trial work for one or two digital experiences (depending on resource and feasibility), one of which would work within a room in the John Knox House, and the other which would be suitable for exterior deployment in the wider literary quarter area. The call out explained that ‘the experiences must be available to participants, but not intrusively apparent to other people passing through, residing in, or using the space for other purposes’. The plan goes on to explain that no permanent physical interventions will be undertaken because of the building’s historical significance.