Who are we? - StratoDOME

Dome Homes LTD was established in 2018 in Bulgaria to design and build Domes. Since then we had more than 90 projects with domes of different sizes and geometries. At the moment our team consists of 20 people and uses a 1700 m2 production facility. We are based in a small village near Plovdiv – Bulgaria.

Our passion is the domes and we believe we are the best in the world at designing them!

At last year’s edition of the International Technical Fair in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, we received a Golden medal for our modular dome construction technology.

Initially, our first projects were based on bending and gluing wood into composite arcs.

We had completed several such projects but we realized there are many disadvantages of this method – the production process is very labor-intensive and skill dependent. Moreover, the wood itself is a very unreliable material and is susceptive to shrinking and expanding with different levels of humidity, cracking, decaying, molds, insects, etc.

Eventually, we decided to use some more proper material, namely Baltic birch plywood. For this purpose, we developed an entirely new proprietary geometry – StratoLINE.

At the moment all our domes are produced from Baltic birch plywood. The different models are designed in 3D software. All the subassemblies are divided into some smaller individual parts which are being cut on CNC routers. These parts are then assembled with glue and screws. To cut efficiently the plywood we have developed our own CNC routers.

WHY ARE WE DIFFERENT FROM THE COMPETITION?

– StratoLINE geometry – most of our domes are characterized by our unique geometry – StratoLINE, which uses sets of parallel arcs 1,2 m from each other. This allows us to use whole sheets of OSB to cover our domes (around 70% of the surface area of our domes can be covered with whole sheets), streamlines all the post-assembly finishing processes, and saves time and materials (money). In addition – our domes shine and have their unique vision which is to be found nowhere else!

– The golden ratio – The golden ratio is a universal expression of structural harmony. It can be found in nature, science, art, and all the domains of human existence. The Golden ratio is an irrational number that is a solution to the quadratic equation X2-X-1=0. It is designated with the Greek letter φ and is equal to 1,618. In our case, we are using the Golden ratio to increase the usable height of a dome.

OUR PRODUCTS?

Currently, we produce three different types of products:

StratoDOME – dome skeleton structures with prefabricated plywood subassemblies
SIP-DOME – dome shells made with SIP panels (Structural Insulated Panels)
EasyDOME – DIY dome kits

1. StratoDOME – Dome skeleton structures with prefabricated subassemblies – We have a whole line of models with diameters from 3 to 15 m. The domes come as a set of preassembled arcs (meridians), struts (parallels), connectors, and all the required bolts, screws, etc. After erecting the set on the plot you end up with a bare skeleton of a dome. All the structural elements of the skeleton are made of Baltic birch plywood for exterior use (FSF type) and are cut precisely on CNC routers. The different subassemblies are made from several layers of plywood elements which are bonded with Class D3 glue (water resistant) and pneumatic nails or screws.

This line of domes has a fixed price for each model which includes VAT, all the plywood elements and subassemblies (arches, struts, and connectors) plus all the required bolts, screws, etc. NOT included in the fixed price are the transport costs and the final assembly which is an optional service. The domes can be assembled on the spot by our team, subcontractors, or even by the customers themselves (we can provide a very detailed and illustrative assembly manual for each of the models).

In addition to the bare skeleton of the domes we also offer several optional systems and items for this type of dome which can be very useful for turning the structure into some finished product:

1.1 OSB sheathing with metal facade cover – we have developed our system for covering the domes with two layers of 9 mm thick OSB3 (total thickness of 18 mm). On the second (the outer) layer we are gluing a metal sheet with some special polyurethane glue. The metal sheets are galvanized and polyester protected, with 30 years of warranty. All the individual OSB elements from the sheathing are cut on a CNC Router and are labeled for easy installation. All the metal elements are cut on a CNC Laser machine. The vertical joints between the ‘columns’ of sheathing elements are sealed with polyurethane silicone and butyl adhesive tape. This optional kit provides for several functions and features – the sheathing (covering of the dome), the load-bearing features (snow, wind, etc.), the roofing (water protection), and the facade – the final look of the dome. The metal sheets come in several different colors as a choice.

1.2 Windows and doors kits – the years of experience and the number of finished projects taught us that the windows and the doors are one of the biggest (if not the biggest) challenges in dome construction. They are very hard to install, prone to water leaks, and last but not least – finishing them aesthetically is a big challenge. For these reasons, we have developed some special Kits for window and door installation which are solving all of the above-mentioned problems. Each kit comes specially designed for the particular model of the dome and fits perfectly into its geometry.

1.3 Elevated foundation with ground screws – this type of foundation is very appropriate for the domes since they are light and sturdy. The foundations come in the form of prefabricated panels with up to 20 cm of thickness which are filled with thermal insulation (a sandwich of mineral and glass wool). The bottom of the panels (which faces the ground) is made of galvanized metal sheet which gives the foundation fire, water, and rodent protection. The main structure of the panels is made of high-grade dried and calibrated wood imported from Germany type, KVH-EN15497-C24CE. The upper surface is made from 22 mm thick OSB3. The panels are assembled on a wooden subframe from the same material. The subframe itself is mounted on several ground screws – 1500×90, 3 mm thickness, galvanized, hydraulically driven into the ground. This type of foundation has many benefits compared with the standard concrete ones:

Quick and easy installation
Waterproof (the main structure typically sits 10-20 sm above the ground)
Fireproof (galvanized metal sheet on the lower side)
Rodent-proof (galvanized metal sheet on the lower side)
Very good thermal insulation – the foundation panels come with up to 20 cm of thermal insulation installed (a sandwich of several mineral and glass wool layers)
Ecological – no concrete is used (the concrete is being touted as the most harming nature in the construction business)
The foundation can be removed easily and quickly from the plot
It does not destroy the landscape and the look of the plot during the installation

2. SIP-Dome – dome shells made with SIP panels (Structural Insulated Panels) – Some of the models from our line (mostly the big ones with a diameter of 10.3 m and above) have been also developed in a variant of SIP structures. The surface of the dome is subdivided into a set of individual Structural Insulated Panels (SIP panels). All the panels are prefabricated in our facility. They have up to 30 cm of thermal insulation inside (a sandwich of mineral and glass wool), a vapor barrier, water insulation, and most importantly – a special panel ventilation chamber on the outer side. The panels are assembled into a dome with bolts, screws, and polyurethane foam. This type of dome has the system with the metal facade included – they are covered with 2 layers of OSB3 and a metal sheet. For them, all the window and door kits are specifically designed and produced as special SIP panels and are included in the price of the dome.

This type of dome has a fixed price for each square meter of a dome’s surface area. In other words – if the dome has a surface area of 214 m2 (model Paola) and the current price of the square meter is 490 E – the price of the dome is 214*490=104860E with VAT. Unlike the skeletons here the final assembly is included in the price.

NOT included in the price are – transportation, foundation, the windows, and the doors (the KITS FOR THE INSTALLATION of the doors and windows which are included in the price are not to be confused with the doors and the windows themself), the final finishing interior layer of the dome.

The only optional product for these types of domes that can be ordered additionally is the above-described foundation with ground screws which can also be used here.

3. EasyDOME – DIY dome kits – these are predominantly small domes (6.5 m and less in diameter) that come as a set of individual elements on one, two, or three euro pallets. Basically these are skeletons but the customer has to do all the preliminary assembly of the arches, struts, and connectors by himself first and then to do the final assembly of the dome. Included in the kits are all the required bolts, screws, glue, etc. plus a very comprehensive assembly manual.

All the above-mentioned options are available also – OSB sheathing with metal cover, Window, and door installation kits, and even the foundation (without the screws).

SOME MORE INTERESTING PROJECTS AND WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED: