Mr Johan de Vries
Maps that stay flat
Shallow drawers for southern maker route maps.
In the Woodstock atelier, I spend much of my time building things to make life simpler for those who work with their hands. One of the pieces I’m most proud of is our Map Cabinet South, designed especially for keeping route maps flat and close at hand for southern makers tracing paths between towns and workshops.
Read it alongside the Map Cabinet South page.
Why maps need special homes
Maps are still vital in many of the places we serve, from Karoo farm schools to Joburg furniture studios. Folded or rolled, a map easily becomes creased, torn or smudged, especially in busy workspaces where tea mugs and offcut piles compete for surface space. We’ve often seen beautiful hand-drawn maker routes or vintage topo sheets curled up behind a bakkie seat, only to be rediscovered with half the detail faded.
That’s why we decided to build a cabinet specifically shaped for this need. Deep drawers would only encourage stacking and forgotten corners. What makers actually require is a space where a map can rest completely flat between uses, without being disturbed by the traffic of the day.
The anatomy of a flat Map drawer
Our Map Cabinet South holds four shallow drawers, each just deep enough to slide in even a large A1 layout or route sheet without any risk of curling. We use birch plywood for its stability in the fluctuating Cape weather, as it resists warping far better than solid timber when the southeaster blows or the workshop warms up in late January.
The glass top means you can lay out a map for reference without exposing it to dust, pencil marks or the odd glue spill from the workbench. If you’re busy tracing a route for a supply run between Potch and Pofadder, it’s possible to check a detail without opening a drawer or moving anything else. Brass pulls are mounted low and wide to give a comfortable grip, even if your hands are full of workshop grime.
The dimensions are a compromise: deep enough for rolled plans to finally be laid flat, but not so broad that the cabinet dominates a small studio. Every corner is made to avoid catching sleeves or snagging on a bakkie seat as the cabinet gets installed in tight spots.
- Plywood construction for weather resistance
- Four shallow drawers (not deep, to prevent stacking)
- Glass top for protective display
- Low, wide brass pulls for easy access
- Compact footprint for smaller workspaces
Mistakes we’ve seen, and fixed
Over the years, we’ve seen a few problems crop up when storing maps. The worst is warping: ordinary chipboard swells and buckles in Highveld humidity, while hardwood panels can crack in the Karoo. Another common mistake is lining drawers with felt or fabric, which seems like a good idea until glue residues start to attract fine dust that marks paper permanently.
We learnt to avoid sticky drawer runners. Metal rails can gum up with sawdust in a busy studio, so we use simple wooden slides with a touch of wax. That means fewer repairs and no risk of snagging a map edge. Finally, not all glass is equal. We only use tempered glass for the tops, as a normal pane can shatter if someone drops a chisel or a heavy clamp by mistake.
Caring for a Map Cabinet in southern conditions
A map cabinet will do its job only if it is looked after. In most of our fit-outs, we recommend a simple dry wipe for the glass and a bit of furniture polish for the plywood once a month. Brass pulls will darken and patinate, which is expected and, in our view, welcome. If a client prefers a brighter shine, a rub with a soft cloth and a dab of lemon juice does the trick.
In the humid coastal air of Durban or the dry, gritty wind near Beaufort West, we advise keeping the cabinet away from direct sunlight and using a level base. Uneven floors can cause the drawers to jam over time. If anything does stick or warp, we ask clients to email atelier@creationafrica.co.za so we can sort it out. The aim is always the same: keep your maps flat, visible and ready for the next journey.
Where to go next
See the Map Cabinet South specs, then the install notes. For a full room brief, the Cultural venue or Embassy gift studio pages walk through a visit week. Finish samples live under finishes, and you can book a sample hour at a showroom.