Sierra Club Article Salutes David B. South’s Vision

David B. South, the visionary founder of Monolithic Inc. and Domes for the World, is often compared to Buckminster Fuller, the other pioneer in dome building. But few have heard of architect Wallace Neff, who also was dedicated to making the world go round.

Neff pioneered Airform construction of what he called “bubble houses” in the 1940s. Using a construction process that is similar to the one used today by Monolithic, Neff oversaw the construction of approximately 2,500 domes in Cuba as well as other parts of the globe. Just as Neff was set to retire in 1975, South and his brothers Barry and Randy began building Monolithic Domes.

Today, the Souths are the undisputed leaders in the construction of Monolithic Dome homes, churches, schools, gymnasiums, and other structures. What’s more, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is increasingly helping fund construction of these super-safe buildings since they meet standards for near-absolute protection from tornadoes and hurricanes.

While Monolithic construction is far superior to the one previously used for “bubble houses,” David South did meet with Neff towards the end of his life. The story of the meeting and the progress Monolithic has made since then is chronicled in an article on the Sierra Club’s Green Home site. Writer Debra Atlas concludes with a salute to Neff and South, whom she describes as “men of vision who created these remarkable, environmentally friendly housing solutions for those who need them most.”