GULF Shade of Bahrain has expanded operations into the Kuwaiti market – where it has been operating under the joint venture Canar-Gulf Shade since January last year.

The joint venture has secured a number of tensile fabric structure projects in the Kuwait market, including two malls that have to be completed before the year-end, two large car-parks and other private projects.
Among the projects it has been recently involved with is the erection of a tensile fabric structure in Boxhill College. Here, two tensile fabrics of the Ferrari 1002S formula have been fashioned to resemble two kites running into each other. The structure is meant to serve as a shade for students and create a visual relief to the open expanse of surroundings of the college.
The larger kite has a surface area of 135 sq m and is held down by five columns, each stabilised by two 12-mm-diameter stainless steel cables. The highest point of the structure is 12 m from the ground. The smaller kite has an area of 55 sq m and is supported on three columns.
The main mast is tilted about 63 degrees from the horizontal toward the smaller kite.
Commenting about the challenges of the project, Osama Isa Al Thawadi, owner of Gulf Shade, says: “The main design issue in this project has been the wind effects. The wind forces on the fabric surface are very large, tending to generate tremendous lift forces. So, the foundation has to be made large enough to counterbalance these forces.
“The fabric has been subjected to a good degree of stress to ensure a substantial wind resistance. Its lay out has had to take into consideration two aspects: wind lift and the aesthetics.
“To ensure the best fabric performance, the stronger fibres have to be laid and positioned where they are most needed for maximum fabric strength.
“The curvature, meanwhile, has to be such that it ensures the wind-resistance of the structure. In fact, playing with the curvature has enhanced the aesthetics of the structure, giving it an airy, spacious appearance, which what is the architect intended.”
Tensile fabric structures have been used in a wide range of construction and building applications for years – from the roofing of large sports halls, sports stadiums and shopping malls to airports, car parking shades and fabric sculptures.