Intelligence Factory, Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park, England
Bletchley Park is the historic home of Britain’s remarkable WWII codebreakers. RAA was asked to create the site’s largest exhibition, Intelligence Factory, on the actual site in Block A where the codebreaking occurred.
The exhibition documents how its potential as an intelligence organization was unleashed in the second half of the war as it rapidly expanded its workforce to 9,000 workers. Their challenge was to convert a mountain of intercepted enemy communications into actionable intelligence that would prove critical in the war. Bletchley Park’s impact came from the combined work of thousands of people, mainly women, doing a wide range of tasks that went well beyond codebreaking. It meant analyzing enemy messages, rather than just decoding and reading them.
RAA’s design activates Block A, bringing stories of the crucial activity that happened here to life, from tracking Allied and enemy vessels, to handling vast quantities of information and recruiting, feeding, and housing thousands of staff. Visitors can view Bletchley Park through multiple lenses – from intimate portraits of staff, to the day-to-day operations of whole teams, to the challenges involved in keeping Bletchley’s entire operation afloat. Snapshots of the present day reveal Bletchley Park’s enduring relevance and legacy, from tackling cybercrime to supplying intelligence to soldiers in the field today.
New Scientist magazine called the exhibition “moving and inspiring.”
Size 6,674 square feet
Year 2022
Project Details
Fit-Out ContractorMarcon
Linear Media Design & ProductionElbow
Interactive Media Design & ProductionAy-Pe
Audiovisual HardwareSysco
Lighting DesignMichael Grubb Studio
Showcase ManufacturerFlorea
Graphics FabricatorLeach
Sound Design and Audio ProductionCoda to Coda
Mechanical InteractivesUnusual Projects
Principal Designer / CDMFraser Randall
AwardsGraphis Design Annual: Silver, ExhibitMUSE Design Awards: Gold, InteriorMuseum + Heritage Award: Shortlisted, ExhibitionsIndigo Design Award: Gold, Integrated Graphic Design
Photography Andrew Lee
“The place is absolutely stunning, steeped in history and beautifully preserved.”
—Vítězslav D.
“As a math geek, it was awesome seeing how coding is used in real life.”
@ayan.faarax
“Gives a real insight into the skill and dedication of all who worked at Bletchley.”
@stevegodwin42
“The history behind codebreaking left me in awe.”
—Ahmer R.
“An enormously important slice of history is placed here and I hope it remains to prosper.”
—Charlie H.
“Brilliant, educational fascinating glimpse into the work that helped end WWII two years early.”
—David H.
“Very well laid out and portrayed so that one feels like they are reliving that era. We developed more respect and admiration for those who worked so hard to crack the codes.”
—Irma H.
“History at its best.”
—Shaun
“I was lucky enough to spend some time at Bletchley Park recently and reflect on the achievements made here.”
@andrewhallsumner
“The codebreakers have always inspired me and it was almost magical to walk the same corridors.”
@charlotteontheair
“An amazing place, full of incredible history and ingenuity.”
@sarina79
“One heck of an exhibition that shows the intellect, fortitude, and strength of the personnel that served at Bletchley Park.”
—Chris M.
“A fascinating insight into the secret world of the codebreakers of the Second World War and how it shaped our intelligence services of today.”
—Geoff H.
“You can feel the presence of the incredible staff who worked so hard on decoding vital wartime communications.”
—Julie G.
“While performing some of the interactive videos, it really hits home the daunting challenges they were under.”
—Kevin B.
“A world-class museum telling a very important story in an immersive, professional way.”
—Mgimol
“A smartly presented and well thought-out museum.”
—Nick W.
“An absolutely amazing site, full of history and stories.”
—Samantha T.