Osborn Lane cannot lay claim to inventing this type of shade — it was popular in Roman times. This example provides some casual shade to an urban space at St Margarets, Sydney.

This type of shade is a simple type of operable shade, which can be retracted when not required. The mechanism required is basically a winch, wire and some pulleys. Such a simple mechanism is economical and low maintenance. Building owners often enquire about operable shades, but the complexity and expense of the mechanism required usually persuades them to settle for a static structure.

The disadvantages of Roman blinds are that they are inherently not waterproof, and lack the interesting curvy shapes of modern fabric structures.