Hidden Compartment Art piece

My project vision was to create a hidden compartment behind a fantasy-inspired art piece. I envisioned a chameleon-like aesthetic that hovered between minimalist and fantasy styles. I have always loved fantasy and soft science fiction stories such as The Lord of the Rings, Dune, and even modern narratives like The Last of Us. This love for storytelling worlds led me to imagine a hobbit door, simple and charming, that would conceal a hidden space behind it. I wanted people to admire the artwork without immediately realizing its true function. In theory this function choice reflects the storytelling idea of a subtle fantasy artifact hidden in plain sight, much like the Holy Grail or the One Ring. In its best form, my project would incorporate a locking mechanism that has a deeper meaning of a story.  For example, I thought it would be really fun if the locking mechanism was voice activated with the words in Lord of the Rings that opens the hidden Moria gates.  This ended up getting cut but may show up in personal projects later.

My original plan involved a dynamic locking mechanism, specifically a rack and pinion system activated by a rotating window or knob. However, as time constraints and practical considerations emerged, I revised the concept to a more simple locking mechanism that retained the essence of the original vision. My ultimate goal remained the same: create an interactive, secretive piece of art that showcased some Middle-earth art while showing like it belongs in the common household.  

My personal aesthetic journey heavily influenced this project. Initially, I wanted the project to reflect my personal aesthetic athleisure and modern technology, with secondary influences from dark academia and rustic coastal aesthetics. Growing up in Maine gave me an appreciation for rustic coastal designs, old porches, gas stoves, and recycled materials. However, because of my move to Colorado, I wanted to branch out and leave behind my past aesthetic patterns.

This project allowed me to explore a fantasy-driven minimalism aesthetic that felt at home..literally in my home. I aimed for minimalism with subtle fantasy details. The hobbit door perfectly embodied the fantasy spirit. I wanted the piece to delight those who noticed the secret without attracting too much attention from every viewer.

I developed several key specifications to guide the project’s functionality. The art piece was designed to measure approximately 12×8 inches, fitting neatly between wall studs for easy in-wall installation. The hidden compartment within would be around 4x4x4 inches, large enough to discreetly store small valuables or personal items.

The compartment had to remain undetected until the correct action was performed. The locking mechanism needed to be relatively smooth, subtle, and durable, withstanding regular use without failure. I also specified that installation should not require significant wall reconstruction, so I planned for a snug frame fit to minimize the need for drywall patching. 

In terms of material, initially I chose wood for the frame and front-facing elements to maintain the fantasy aesthetic, while acrylic was selected for internal components due to its precision and ease of cutting with a laser cutter, however, I found some decent laser cutting wood so ended using the wood for the whole piece. Where necessary, 3D-printed parts were considered for intricate locking mechanism components.  I ended up 3D printing and laser cutting a key, as that was a more vital mechanism.

I focused on how to embody my aesthetic goals in the physical design. The choice of a hobbit door/front house sets the fantasy tone. To keep with the minimalist side, I avoided over-decorating the banisters or adding too much paint. This allowed the door’s green and black color, the color of the backing, the color of the windows, and doorknob to pop. Functionally, the simplicity of a single-turn mechanism allowed for the execution of the locking mechanism while fitting within time constraints.  At the last minute, I almost decided to institute the rack and pinion, but I ran out of time. 

While not too difficult, I stayed true to the fantasy aesthetic with the wood choice.  The idea of the hobbit door ‘in canon’ is that it is simple and reflects the quiet life they choose to live, often prioritizing homey feel to adventure. I chose natural wood tones to reflect this idea. In short, every design decision served to reinforce the blend of fantasy, minimalism, and storytelling that I wanted.

The final form was a compact, circular hobbit door set into a wood-framed structure. The door featured a doorknob that, when rotated counterclockwise, allowed the key to pass through a cut out section of the frame hidden behind the door. Behind the door, the compartment was constructed with MDF wood which is lightweight yet strong enough to hold small items.

The front of the piece was designed to look minimalistic and almost rustic. The laser-cut wood allowed me to capture the familiar imagery of hobbit architecture, with small additions like tiny “house plants” repurposed from old fake plants. The back and sides were plain to better blend into a drywall cutout, ensuring the art piece remained subtle when installed. The picture below shows the semi-final version.  I had a few pieces break so had to recut some material in order to get the post in.  Ultimately, I need to add a final level of detailed paint as well as a basic frame.

My initial sketches explored multiple ideas. The first was a large, rectangular frame with an integrated rack-and-pinion hidden behind a rotating window. This design still incorporated the storytelling element of a hobbit door from the Shire that concealed the mechanics.

However, due to time constraints, I revised the concept. My later sketches depicted a simpler, standalone circular hobbit door with a mechanical turning door knob mechanism. I reduced the complexity of the background and decorations to simplify the structure and the hidden functionality.

I also explored alternative projects early on, including a ski lift-inspired spice rack driven by a bicycle chain and gears. Another alternative was a hidden compartment integrated into a bicycle art piece, drawing on a mechanical aesthetic. While both ideas were intriguing, I ultimately returned to the fantasy hobbit door because it best embodied the aesthetic and functional goals that I wanted to explore.

While my fabrication plan centered heavily on manual building, I initially used CAD tools to model the locking mechanism and overall structure for prototyping purposes. Below you can see the CAD design of my overall project, minus the color used.  

The CAD was most useful in the sense that it gave me the files I needed to laser cut.   Without it, I would have spent an unnecessary amount of time designing in CorelDraw. While CAD was useful to have an idea of what I was designing, it is an ideal design and I needed to make some changes to the laser cutting.  This occurred mostly in the integration of the hidden compartment sliding into the frame. CAD gives an ideal scenario, however, the tolerance needed to be changed.  

In this photo of CAD, you can see the locking mechanism in its release state as well as a photo that shows the locking state.  Furthermore, you can see how this translated into the wood design.  Because the tolerance was designed to be very low, I ended up shaving down some of the wood on the lock.

Overall, I was proud of how the final piece captured my original vision while adapting with real-world constraints. The hobbit door hidden compartment met the blend of minimalism and fantasy I was looking for.

While I regretted having to simplify some elements, the focus on storytelling and subtlety remained intact. I achieved my goal of creating a hidden compartment that blends into its surroundings, yet reveals its secret with a mechanical interaction for those who know where to look.

If I had more time, I would have explored adding more advanced locking mechanisms or intricate laser-etched designs on the frame. Nonetheless, the project taught me valuable lessons about balancing vision with practicality, embracing material limitations, and staying flexible during the design and fabrication process.