Art Crate

This art crate system was one of the first models developed by Archiyou and reflects our goal of making custom building projects easier. Its simplicity is thanks to its creator, Wim Janssen, a woodworking expert at Amsterdam’s renowned Rijksakademie art academy. With tight schedules for shipping artworks, Janssen optimized this design for quick assembly using materials readily available on hand.

The system is highly customizable, perfect for repurposing leftover materials. Small slats and boards are all you need—5 to 12 mm plywood or OSB boards and 36x18 mm or bigger roof battens work great. Despite its simplicity, the crate’s clever construction makes it incredibly robust, holding up well for lengths of 2 to 3 meters, depending on board size and the weight of the contents.

If you do need additional materials, most DIY stores offer board-cutting services to save you time. For assembly, have around 100 to 150 screws ready—just slightly shorter than the combined thickness of your slats and boards. For added strength, especially at the corners, consider using a few longer screws.

This design is quick, efficient, easy to carry and ideal for safely transporting your valuable items — giving artists one less thing to worry about!