A Study Tour To The Sangsad Bhaban And Exploration Of The Greatness Of Louis I Kahn

The Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament House) of Bangladesh situated at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka is a unique
creation of philosopher-architect Louis I Kahn. The students of Arts & Social Sciences (Department of
Advertising, English and Mass Communication), of AIUB found themselves lucky to get permission from the
authority for visiting the inside of the building and to explore the work of art of this famous architect. The
course teacher Mr. Niaz Majumdar under the course Art & Aesthetics arranged the study tour on 14th.July
2008; a renowned architect, Nahas Ahmed Khalil, was also with students to make understand the
architectural essence of this monumental building.

An artificial lake called Crescent Lake encircled with greeneries surrounds the building. It’s like the entire
building is floating symbolizing green Bangladesh on floating water. Despite of 160 ft height (approximately,
same as 15 story building), the building doesn’t seem too much high from outside. Silent environment and
presence of natural light inside the building has made this structure different from others. The structure is
made up of concrete and Kahn didn’t use columns rather he used concrete walls with circular and triangular
openings which ensure natural light and air. Thus, the building doesn’t require much artificial light and air.
These pleased the students a lot. They were also eager to find out the silent environment inside the
building and found dreamy calm and quite environment there. These are all actually the greatness of the
Kahn design.

Louis I Kahn commissioned to design this complex structure in 1962.

Kahn’s skills got comprehensiveness in this particular design and thus the building has become one of the
wonders of modern architecture, it’s really pride of any Bangladeshi. Unfortunately, he died in 1974 before
this monumental artistic work was completed. The work was largely completed in July 1983 and awarded
Aga Khan Award (the highest international award in architecture) for Architecture for the National Assembly
Building in 1989.