DOMECRETE Back
The Domecrete Building System (also known as the "Heifetz System") was invented in 1969, and later improved upon and patented, during the eighties.
The main goal of its development was to create a reusable, inflatable yet stable form, to support concrete-casting of non-straight-lines constructions.
This development led to the possibility to construct the strongest and most efficient structures per building-quantities (and costs): domes and other curved shaped shell structures, e.g.: semi-cylinders, ellipsoids, etc…
These curved structures came about as a natural result of utilizing the pneumatic form.
The domes and other curved structures have the highest earthquake resistance properties due to their geometric nature. The Domecrete system became popular in various seismic zones all over the world and has already proven the structures unique strength, and allows for drastic reductions in steel and concrete quantities used in the construction.
The perfection of the dome-shaped and other curved shaped structures also presents technical and architectural advantages.
The Domecrete system was invented by Haim and Raphael Heifetz, and is protected by international patents that were improved upon based on the accumulated knowledge developed during the course of thousands of projects all over the world. During the mid-90’s, further enhancements were made by Raphael Heifetz, mainly in improving concrete qualities to obtain better workability and plasticity for creating a sprayable concrete to be sprayed externally upon the pneumatic form in one layer only; without fallout, with better ratio of strength to weight, and with better thermal isolation. Additional improvements were made in the late-90s’ in the area of the safety of the air-controlled and the anchoring system of the pneumatic form, including a new refinement in the design of the pneumatic form to enlarge its life-span under higher pressure. These refinements and improvements were an integral part of today’s, matured Domocrete system.
More than 40,000 Domecrete structures have been constructed world-wide by licensees of Domecrete and YSM for Building. In many instances where the construction of-large-scale, low-cost residential and public projects were initiated, the Domocrete system was selected because of its ground-breaking cost effectiveness.
In some countries where there is increased seismic activity, the main consideration for building Domecrete structures is its earthquake resistant properties; e.g., in the Iranian city of Shiraz, in Sicily (on the ruins of the villages of San-Vito LoCapo, and in Venezuela after the destructive earthquake in Caracas and the North coast.
In developing countries, the main consideration is to provide very low-cost residential flats with lower quantities of steel and concrete; e.g. in Nigeria, Bolivia, Iran and others.
While in rich countries – the unlimited architectural possibilities energize this building system.
In geographically isolated regions where construction logistics are problematic, the main consideration is to reduce the quantities of building materials transported; e.g. in Bolivia, 36 remote army camps in the Ands Mountains at an altitude of 3000m
When used in the tourism industry, the main goal is to present the special aesthetic and unique qualities of Domecrete (one or two levels); e.g. summer homes and villas or low-cost motels, such as those built in Margarita island, (Caribbean) or in Kibbutz Nah'sholim in Israel. While in building luxury projects, the system was chosen by architects because it allows for the creation of unique curved structures in the most economical model.
Domecrete has also been utilized extensively by the agriculture industry in the construction of silos, storage containers, above ground and underground shelters, nuclear shelters (dome or curved shape), storm-resistance-aerodynamic structures and shelters, and energy saving buildings. Furthermore, it has been used in a number of public structures such as synagogues, museums, galleries, and sports arenas.
Large quantities of Domecrete structures can now be found in Israel, South-Africa, Bolivia, Italy, Venezuela, Iran, the Caribbean, the USA, Switzerland and Nigeria.
The main goal of its development was to create a reusable, inflatable yet stable form, to support concrete-casting of non-straight-lines constructions.
This development led to the possibility to construct the strongest and most efficient structures per building-quantities (and costs): domes and other curved shaped shell structures, e.g.: semi-cylinders, ellipsoids, etc…
These curved structures came about as a natural result of utilizing the pneumatic form.
The domes and other curved structures have the highest earthquake resistance properties due to their geometric nature. The Domecrete system became popular in various seismic zones all over the world and has already proven the structures unique strength, and allows for drastic reductions in steel and concrete quantities used in the construction.
The perfection of the dome-shaped and other curved shaped structures also presents technical and architectural advantages.
The Domecrete system was invented by Haim and Raphael Heifetz, and is protected by international patents that were improved upon based on the accumulated knowledge developed during the course of thousands of projects all over the world. During the mid-90’s, further enhancements were made by Raphael Heifetz, mainly in improving concrete qualities to obtain better workability and plasticity for creating a sprayable concrete to be sprayed externally upon the pneumatic form in one layer only; without fallout, with better ratio of strength to weight, and with better thermal isolation. Additional improvements were made in the late-90s’ in the area of the safety of the air-controlled and the anchoring system of the pneumatic form, including a new refinement in the design of the pneumatic form to enlarge its life-span under higher pressure. These refinements and improvements were an integral part of today’s, matured Domocrete system.
More than 40,000 Domecrete structures have been constructed world-wide by licensees of Domecrete and YSM for Building. In many instances where the construction of-large-scale, low-cost residential and public projects were initiated, the Domocrete system was selected because of its ground-breaking cost effectiveness.
In some countries where there is increased seismic activity, the main consideration for building Domecrete structures is its earthquake resistant properties; e.g., in the Iranian city of Shiraz, in Sicily (on the ruins of the villages of San-Vito LoCapo, and in Venezuela after the destructive earthquake in Caracas and the North coast.
In developing countries, the main consideration is to provide very low-cost residential flats with lower quantities of steel and concrete; e.g. in Nigeria, Bolivia, Iran and others.
While in rich countries – the unlimited architectural possibilities energize this building system.
In geographically isolated regions where construction logistics are problematic, the main consideration is to reduce the quantities of building materials transported; e.g. in Bolivia, 36 remote army camps in the Ands Mountains at an altitude of 3000m
When used in the tourism industry, the main goal is to present the special aesthetic and unique qualities of Domecrete (one or two levels); e.g. summer homes and villas or low-cost motels, such as those built in Margarita island, (Caribbean) or in Kibbutz Nah'sholim in Israel. While in building luxury projects, the system was chosen by architects because it allows for the creation of unique curved structures in the most economical model.
Domecrete has also been utilized extensively by the agriculture industry in the construction of silos, storage containers, above ground and underground shelters, nuclear shelters (dome or curved shape), storm-resistance-aerodynamic structures and shelters, and energy saving buildings. Furthermore, it has been used in a number of public structures such as synagogues, museums, galleries, and sports arenas.
Large quantities of Domecrete structures can now be found in Israel, South-Africa, Bolivia, Italy, Venezuela, Iran, the Caribbean, the USA, Switzerland and Nigeria.