Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban: Encyclopedia II - Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban - Architecture and design

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban - Architecture and design

Among buildings in use as National Assembly, the Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban is one of the best designed and most spacious. The building houses all likely requirements of a Parliament and yet pays very careful attention to aesthetics. One of the best aspect of the architecture is the way the entire building appears to be one huge structure from the exterior but is internally organised into several storeys and wings.

Louis Kahn also designed the rest of the complex. The Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban is a part of the entire Jatiyo Sangsad complex, which includes lawns, lake and residence for the Members of the Parliament (MPs).

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban - Location and basic layout

The enclave, situated in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, is bound by four major streets:

• Lake Road to the North;
• Rokeya Sarani to the East;
• Manik Mia Avenue to the South; and
• Mirpur Road to the West.

As a result, the complex is well accessible and manageable (during parliamentary sessions).

The main building (the Bhaban) is divided into three parts:

1. The Main Plaza: 823,000 square feet (76,000 m²)
2. South Plaza: 223,000 square feet (21,000 m²)
3. Presidential Plaza: 65,000 square feet (6,000 m²)

The main building is at the centre of the complex. The outer parts of the complex include the MP hostel and buildings for emergency facilities. The gap in between is filled with an intricately designed lake, surrounding the main building, and two lawns.

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban - Design philosophy

The key design philosophy was optimum use of space but clearly representing Bangladeshi heritage and culture through the architecture. The architecture evolved from the basic human requirement of protection from the glare and fury of nature.

These has been achieved by organisation of the enclave into different groups of buildings. External lines are deeply recessed by porticoes with huge openings of regular geometric shapes on their exterior, forming the outer visual impact of the building. Thus need to provide traditional protection for external windows has been removed while adding compositional effect of these huge openings which befits buildings of huge scale.

In the architect 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...

The lake on three sides of the Bhaban, extending up to the Members' hostel not only adds to aesthetics but also portrays the riverine beauty of Bangladesh.

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban - The Bhaban Main Building Design

The Bhaban consists of nine individual blocks: the eight peripheral blocks rise to a height of 110' while the central octagonal block rises to a height of 155'. All of the nine blocks include different groups of functional spaces and have different levels, inter-linked horizontally and vertically by the use of corridors, lifts, stairs, light courts and circular areas. The entire structure is carefully designed to blend into one single, indifferentiable unit, that appears to be one single block containing a single storey from the exterior!

The main committee rooms are located at level two in one of the peripheral blocks. All parliamentary functionaries, including Ministers and chairpersons of some of the Standing Committees, have offices in the Bhaban. The Parliament Secretariat also occupies offices in the same building.

The most important part of the Main Plaza is obviously the Parliament Chamber, which can house 354 members during sessions. There are also two podiums and two galleries for VIP visitors. The Chamber has a maximum height of 117' with a parabolic shell roof. The roof was designed with a clearance of a single storey to let in daylight. The daylight, which reflects from the surrounding walls and octagonal drum, filters into the Parliament Chamber. (The efficient and aesthetic use of light was seen as a strong architectural capability of Louis Kahn.)

The artificial lighting system has been carefully devised to provide zero obstruction to the entry of daylight. A composite chandelier is suspended from parabolic shell roof. This chandelier in turn consists of a metallic web, spanning the entire chamber, that supports the individual light fixtures.

Upper levels of the block (that contains the Chamber) contain the visitors’ and press galleries, as well as communication booths, all of which overlook the Parliament Chamber. The block also contains:

• at level one, a library;
• at level three, MPs’ lounges; and
• at the upper level, party rooms.

The South Plaza faces the Lake Road. It gradually rises to a 20' height and serves as a beautiful exterior as well as the main entrance (used by members during sessions) to the Parliament Building. It contains:

• controlling gates;
• a driveway;
• a main mechanical plant room;
• a large car parking space;
• a telephone exchange;
• offices of maintenance engineers;
• equipment stores; and
• an open plaza with steps and ramps leading directly to the main building.

The Presidential Plaza lies to the North and faces the Manik Mia Avenue. It functions as an intimate plaza for the MPs and other dignitaries. It contains marble steps, a gallery and an open pavement.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Architecture and design", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki