Advanced Building Technologies

DOMECRETE ™ is an advanced building system for constructing buildings on site, using inflatable forms.

...A breakthrough in cost-effectiveness,  a revolution in construction strength and constructing speed, new horizons in design...

Concept and History:

The Domecrete building system (also well known as the "Heifetz System") was conceptually invented in 1969, and improved, developed and protected by patents, mainly during the  the eighties.

The challenge was to use a reusable inflated-form instead of the conventional wooden or steel frames, to support the structure during the early stage of concrete curing, in order to save the cost of  frame materials and labor which were the major factor in the cost of the construction.

While reducing the cost by using the pneumatic form, a most efficient system was created, which provided the  physically strongest and most efficient structures: domes and other curved shaped shell structures, e.g.:  semi-cylinders, ellipsoids, etc.

The curved structures became a natural result of using the pneumatic form.

The domes and other curved structures have the highest earthquake resistance properties as a result of their geometric nature. The Domecrete system became popular in various seismic zones over the world and already proved the structures unique strength.

The unique strength and geometric efficiency of the Domecrete structures offers the drastic reduction in steel and concrete quantities.

The perfection of the dome-shaped and other curved shaped structures presents  technical and architectural advantages.

The Domecrete system was invented by Haim and Raphael Heifetz, and is subject to patents that were improved during a generation according to accumulated  know-how over thousands of projects all over the world. During the nineties, mainly in 95 - 98, further developments 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 fall-out, with better ratio of strength to weight, and with better thermal isolation. Other improvements were made in the and of the nineties regarding the safety of the air-controlled and the anchoring system of the pneumatic form, including new refinement in the design of the pneumatic form to enlarge it's life-span under higher pressure.

Throughout the years the system was refined and improved, and at present the system came to it's full mature   state.

More than forty thousand Domecrete structures were constructed throughout the world, under license of Domecrete and YSM for Building.

The revolutionary high cost effectiveness was the main consideration in choosing the Domecrete system in massive low-cost residential and public projects.

In few countries, the main consideration is the earthquake resistance of the Domecrete structures. e.g., in Shiraz desert of Iran, 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 poor countries, the main consideration is to provide very-low-cost residential flats with low quantities of steel and concrete. e,g,, in Nigeria, Bolivia, Iran and more.

In Isolated regions with logistic problems, the main consideration is to reduce materials quantities transportation. Like as in 36 army camps, in the Ands Mountains in height of 3000 m' in Bolivia.

In a part of tourism projects the main goal was to present the special esthetics and uniqueness of Domecrete (one or two levels) summerhouses villas or low-cost motels, e.g., in Margarita island, (Caribbean) or in Kibbutz Nah'sholim in Israel.

In luxury projects the system was chosen by architects for allowing special curved structures in the most economic way.

structures for agriculture, silos, storage containers, above and underground shelters, nuclear shelters (dome or curved shape),  storm-resistance-aerodynamic structures and shelters, energy saving buildings, synagogues, public structures, museums, galleries, sports-halls, and many other large quantities of Domecrete structures were established in Israel, South-Africa, Bolivia, Sicily, Venezuela, Iran, the Caribbean Islands, USA, Swiss and the last license contract was with the huge Globe Irish company, for Nigeria (1998).

...Domes, Domes in the ancient world: Pantheon in Rome, Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, in Roman,Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance Architecture. Through 2,000 years domes have proved to be a wonder of nature in strength and beauty. Built without steel, before the invention of reinforced concrete, they have survived through the ages, through numberless storms and earthquakes.

Domes in the modern age: made of elaborated building materials still stronger than any structure. Due to their elegance and prestige, they rule most of the international fairs and exhibitions (40-50% of all "Expo's" in Brussels, Montreal, Osaka).

Thousands of luxurious homes are made of domes in the USA for those who can afford this capricious architecture (it takes very much time and money to shape a dome using conventional form-work).

Using inflatable forms for the construction of Dome homes has been, since 1940, a challenge to many builders.

The spectacular achievement demonstrated in the Domecrete technique created new values of cost-effectiveness,  a breakthrough in speed and new horizons in design.