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Ever since reading about them in The Design of Everyday Things, I've loved the idea of the carved wooden maps (3D, tactile, weatherproof, floating etc.) that the Inuit made to navigate their Greenland territory.
As a spare-time project over the last few years, I've been making tiny accurate copies of British landscapes out of plaster and other materials, drawing on terrain data published by NASA, Ordnance Survey and the Environment Agency.
I turn the data into a 3D computer model, then get that 3D printed. 3D prints are expensive and rather plastic-y, so I usualy make a silicone rubber mould and make a more solid shape by casting plaster.
Here's the Snowdon horseshoe:
I'm selling these on Etsy if you like them.
The landscapes that suit the process best are the more dramatic ones; sea-cliffs, steep mountains, gorges and stacks. Here are some paperweights in the shape of landscapes. On the left is Cheddar Gorge and on the right is Beachy Head:
Coastal features work well. Here's a framed set of four (which could be personalised) sea-cliffs. Clockwise from top-right: The Old Man of Hoy (Orkney), Bempton Cliffs (East Yorkshire), Pen yr Afr (Pembrokeshire) and Great Hangman (Devon).
The plaster has a slight texture which suits the landscapes. Here's a close-up aerial view of the Old Man of Hoy (left) and Bempton Cliffs (right):
I'm currently working on sets of ceramic bookends. The first is in the shape of Scafell Pike. The mountain is sliced at its highest point to make two bookends. Each is embossed with the name, latitude and longitude, and a north arrow.
Here's an early prototype that shows how the two sides match up (both sides are made from rubber at this stage in the development process):
The books will fit between the two parts:
Drop me an email if you'd like to comission a piece, or find out more. I've learned quite a lot about producing these shapes in as cost effective way as possible. I'd also like to make landscapes based out of wood or metal at some point.