FLIM-FLAMS: Innovative Self-Assembling Timber Shells by Neal Lucas Hitch

Located in Ithaca, United States, FLIM-FLAMS (Force-Lifted, Timber, Flat-Laminated Shells) is a groundbreaking architectural installation designed by Neal Lucas Hitch in 2024. Covering an area of 200 ft², this project redefines timber construction by combining computational design, sustainable practices, and rapid deployability. Photographs by Thanut “Hint” Sakdanaraseth capture the elegance of these dynamic wooden structures, both indoors and in garden settings.

Computationally Optimized Timber Architecture

FLIM-FLAMS introduces a revolutionary approach to timber construction. Using advanced digital software, Neal Lucas Hitch developed radial cut patterns on flat sheet plywood, which are then laminated and lifted from a central axis to form self-assembling, doubly curved timber shells. This method transforms flat, rigid plywood panels into flexible “wooden springs,” creating multi-curving, bending-active vaults without material waste.

Unlike traditional building materials such as steel, plastic, or concrete, wood is naturally rigid and challenging to mold into complex geometries. FLIM-FLAMS addresses this limitation by combining computational design and physical fabrication. The process allows timber to achieve shapes previously possible only with labor-intensive or wasteful methods, enabling rapid deployment and sustainable construction.

From Digital Model to Physical Structure

The design workflow begins with computational modeling, inspired by biological patterns and undulating radial geometries. Digital twins simulate the self-assembly of the timber shells, ensuring precision before fabrication. Once optimized, the radial patterns are etched into standard plywood sheets using a CNC mill.

On-site, the sheets are laminated at their short ends to form a 15-foot diameter flat sheet. A central rod with a threaded hexagonal nut gradually lifts the plywood up to 60 inches, allowing the structure to assemble itself into its final vaulted shape. This innovative approach showcases the versatility of timber as a material, proving that it can achieve flexible, multi-curving forms without excessive milling or waste.

Sustainable Design and Academic Roots

FLIM-FLAMS originated as part of Neal Lucas Hitch’s master’s dissertation at Cornell University’s Department of Design Technology, under the guidance of research advisors Sasa Zivkovic and Leslie Lok. Constructed in collaboration with The Soil Factory, a non-profit promoting experimental sustainable design in Ithaca, the project exemplifies how technology and traditional craftsmanship can merge to produce eco-conscious architectural solutions.

By integrating computational design, hand-building techniques, and sustainable timber, FLIM-FLAMS represents a significant step forward in innovative timber architecture, offering new possibilities for rapidly deployable installations, pavilions, and experimental structures.

FLIM-FLAMS demonstrates how emerging digital tools and physical construction can unite to create sustainable, deployable timber shells. Neal Lucas Hitch’s project pushes the boundaries of wood as a building material, enabling complex bending, minimal waste, and rapid installation. This pioneering work sets a precedent for future architectural experimentation with bending-active structures, self-assembling timber, and sustainable fabrication techniques.

All photographs are works of  Thanut “Hint” Sakdanaraseth