Schools in the Persian Gulf region are built as a series of buildings surrounding an internal courtyard. Given the hot climate in this part of the world, the courtyards would often be uncomfortable places.

Osborn Lane’s client, Specialized Architectural Systems, won the contract to build fabric shades over the courtyards of 17 schools in Qatar, a small emirate on the western shore of the Persian Gulf. Shade cloth is not ideal for this part of the world, because it tends to get weighed down with wind born sand, so the shades are PVC coated polyester fabric. The conical shapes and catenary edges offer a pleasing contrast to the rectangular concrete buildings.