The National Assembly Building in Dhaka, designed by Louis I. Kahn, serves as one of the largest legislative complexes in the world, symbolizing democracy and Bengali pride. Completed in 1982, the building integrates modern architectural principles while reflecting local heritage, characterized by its unique structural elements and light-infused spaces. It features an assembly chamber, library, and mosque, embodying Kahn's vision of light and spatial harmony within the complex layout.

1. National Assembly Building
Louis I. Khan

2. • Govt. of Pakistan decided to built the second capital in Dhaka and that’s why assembly building
was suggested to built in 1959
• At first Muzharul Islam got proposal to design.
• But He referred it to his mentor Louis I. Kahn 1962 to do significant work for future generation
• Muzharul Islam assisted Kahn at the project.
• The project is completed in 28 January, 1982
• Located in the capital of Bangladesh
Dhaka
• Standing on the area of 3,400,000 sqm.
• One of the largest legislative complexes
in the world.
• It houses all parliamentary activities of
Bangladesh.
“It is one of the twentieth century's greatest
architectural monuments, and is without question
Kahn's magnum opus.“
-- Robert McCarter

3. • Kahn combined both vernacular
and monumental archetypes of
the region
• Use abstraction and
transformation to a degree of
utter purity-- ideas from many
eras and civilization
• The core of the composition is the
assembly chamber and the library.

4. Concept
Louis I. Kahn designed this building in
modern architectural style.
• Modernist in principle
• optimizing the use of space while
representing Bangladeshi heritage
and culture
• Character of the context
• a symbol of democracy and pride for
the Bengali people
• People’s spirituality
• Riverine Bangladesh

5. The main building (the Bhaban) is divided into
three parts:
- The Main Plaza
- South Plaza
- Presidential Plaza
The main building is at the center of the
complex. The outer parts of the complex
include the MP hostel. An intricately designed
lake surrounds the main building.
The Main Plaza
Presidential Plaza
South Plaza

6. Plan
12 7
4
5
6
3
4
4
4
1. Assembly Hall
2. Mosque
3. Ablution court
4. Office
5. Minister lounge
6. Dining and Recreation
7. Entrance to presidential plaza

7. Section

8. Main Plaza
• It is the parliament chamber
• Can house 354 members
• Also has two podiums and two
galleries for VIP visitors.
• Total height 155’
• After 117’ a parabolic shell roof cover
the chamber.
• Upper levels of the block contains the
visitor and press galleries, as well as
communication booths

9. • This chandelier in turn consists of a
metallic web
• It is spanning the entire chamber, that
supports the individual light fixtures.
• To let the day light enter, reflecting from
the surrounded walls and filters into the
assembly chamber
• Artificial lighting provide zero obstruction to daylight
• A composite chandelier is suspended from parabolic
shell roof.
• There is a single story clearance after the shell roof

10. • There are other 8 halls height
of 120’, concentrically aligned
around the parliamentary
grand chamber
• It also is part of Kahn’s design
objectives
• optimizing spatial
configurations where the
supporting programs project
out of the center volume
• 8 halls contain --- offices,
hotels for parliamentary
officials, and a restaurant

11. South plaza
• Faces the Manik Mia
Avenue.
• Gradually rises to 20’
• Serves as the main
entrance
• This entrance is used
by the members
during sessions

12. Presidential plaza
• Lies to the North
• Faces the lake road
• Serves as the
intimate plaza for the
MPs and other
dignitaries
• Contains – marble
steps, a gallery and
an open pavement

13. Kahn designed The complex as the necklace in the neck of Bangladesh Where
The assembly building is the pendent in that necklace.

14. • All the building
of the complex
is made of red
brick
• White concrete
is used for
assembly
building
• All the
materials are
local and very
easily
available here

15. • Lake surrounded the three sides of the building
represents riverine Bangladesh
• It also enhances the beauty by reflecting the
elevations
• “Kahn was deeply affected by the
presence of water in Dhaka. When he
first came he was taken on a boat
ride. And his first sketches were of
boats on the river.”
--- Kazi Khaleed Ashraf,

16. Kahn’s trip to Italy and Egypt cast a
great impact in his work and in this
design also
The massive walls of this building is
the influence of the Roman Bath of
Karakala
He also considered to in corporate
mosque in the form of a pyramid
into the complex
But it didn’t work as the co-
workers hated the idea
But He didn’t give up . At noon the
building cast pyramid shaped
shadows

17. The mosque
• Kahn designed the
prayer hall of the
building as a mosqoue
• Being inspired form our
spiritual belief,
• he let the light flood in
• Made it the entrance of
the building
• Square in plan
• 4 cylinders at each
corners, allows daylight
to enter, called light
tower
• he let the light flood
into the mosque
Light from the Heaven
Diffuse light into the prayer hall creates a
much stronger experience of spirituality
The Mosque is shifted
to better face Mecca
Thick exterior walls keep the
concentration within the prayer hall
and allow any outside destructions
Light Tower

18. Mosque Roof Mosque Interior Wall

19. Exterior Walls
• Shape of the Large punches on the
exterior walls came from the
geometrical representation of our
cultural and traditional element. Such
as – pottery, house, weaving element.
• These punches also give the building a
single story look.
• Providing protection from sun and
rain.
• Helps to ensure comfortable interior
environment

20. Cool air comes off the artificial lake to
Cool down the interior of the building
Kahn designed the assembly hall within simple forms and
shapes to provide a vocabulary that could easily be
incorporated into any design for the buildings of Bangladesh

21. Only 5 feet of
concrete could
be hand
poured by the
cities people a
day. Because
of this Kahn
placed bands
of marble
after each
days pour in
order to hide
the lines
between each
level
Marble bands
are positioned
every 5’ to hide
the
imperfections
of the exposed
concrete
Transition to sublte verticle lines
frome original “V” shapes due to
inadequate results

22. 5’
concrete
fill
Building Envelop
Building Envelop
Large clerestory window
allows for ample amount
of diffuse light to filter
into the assembly hall
Structural Detail
The entire complex is
fabricated out of poured in
place concrete with inlaid
white marble
He gives the essence of
spirituality in the structure
also.
As light is the holiness and
positive sprite in our belief,
he structure the building as s
giver of light.
Exposed
concrete
Marble
Beam
Aluminum
50’

23. In Louis Kahn's own words:
“In the assembly I have introduced a light-giving element to
the interior of the plan. If you see a series of columns you can
say that the choice of columns is a choice in light. The
columns as solids frame the spaces of light. Now think of it
just in reverse and think that the columns are hollow and
much bigger and that their walls can themselves give light,
then the voids are rooms, and the column is the maker of
light and can take on complex shapes and be the supporter of
spaces and give light to spaces. I am working to develop the
element to such an extent that it becomes a poetic entity
which has its own beauty outside of its place in the
composition. In this way it becomes analogous to the solid
column I mentioned above as a giver of light.
It was not belief, not design, not pattern, but the essence
from which an institution could emerge...”

24. Interior Spaces
• In the interior spaces, street lights are used to give a
feel of out side in the inside.

26. This building wins Aga Khan Award in 1979.
The jury noted that the architect has produced a
building that "while universal in its sources of forms,
aesthetics, and technologies, could be in no other
place."

27. Reference:
• http://www.archdaily.com/83071/ad-classics-national-assembly-building-of-bangladesh-louis-kahn
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatiya_Sangsad_Bhaban
• http://www.folklife.si.edu/talkstory/2015/the-father-the-son-and-an-almost-holy-architectural-masterpiece-
in-bangladesh/
• https://www.yatzer.com/even-brick-wants-be-something-louis-kahn
• http://architectuul.com/architecture/national-assembly-building-of-bangladesh
• http://www.akdn.org/architecture/project/national-assembly-building
• http://www.oxfordartonline.com/public/page/lessons/KahnLesson5
• http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/about-parliament/architect-and-parliament
• http://www.bangladesh.com/blog/the-grand-architecture-of-jatiyo-sangsad-bhaban
• https://nijhoom.com/bangladesh-national-parliament/
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263514000041

28. Thank You All