Kaper Naum Church, Galilee

St. Peter’s Memorial in Kaper Naum near the Sea of Galilee is a 3D frame construction, built of pre-fabricated R.C components, assembled together to form the floor and roof of the theater-like main hall of the church. Connection of the units is achieved by using Epoxy glue and post tension techniques.

The entire structure “hovers” above the historic ruins of Kaper Naum, without touching the archeological findings. A special opening at the center of the floor allows viewing of the site from above.

The structure is built in a high seismic zone, and it’s design life is 500 years (compared to the usual 50 years standard). This effects the safety factors and materials.

The structure was designed by an Italian design firm, originally as a cast-in-place construction, and the role of our firm was to design the pre-fabricated alternative, which finally was indeed implied.