The Parliament by Loius I Kahn

After lunch we packed ourselves in the car to go and see the Parliament building by architect Louis I Kahn. It is located in the area of Shangsad babon and it is a master piece for any architect nerd. We had realized that it was hard to get into the building but that you could view it from outside. From home (Sweden, US and Holland) there was no information on how to get in. You had to apply and some of us did but got no response. So we figured it would be almost impossible but decided to go and try anyway.

As we arrive we get to see the building from outside. We get rejected at three armed gates. At the fourth gate Sabbi says she is a travel guide and tells the guards it is humiliating for her as a tour guide that she can't get these people in who have travelled a long way for this. She said we had all applied online as they had described but never got any responses.

Many phonecalls are being made by the guards... and suddenly we are through the gates. They tell us we can't go in and we can only walk on one side of the path and not walk on the big steps. As we get closer to the building we get in touch with another man- who lets us in! They take our passport information, scan us and we get a full tour. Unbelievable!

We were not allowed to take pictures inside so all my pictures are only from outside.

The building is an amazing piece of modern brutal architecture. Raw and tough concrete creating a lotus flower which is floating on water. Practical, serious and very much like a cityplan in a way. Grand and suprising yet completely rational. Not accessible, closed and mysterious to the citizens and visitors of Bangladesh which brings a rejective touch to it being where it is. People generally do not like it and I think it is beacuse it is not inclusive- it is rejective... The stairs outside I imagine should be inhabited by citizens. Life should be happening there...

About:
"The Jatiyo Sangshad ("National Parliament"; Bengali: জাতীয় সংসদ Jatio Shôngshod), often referred to simply as the Sangshad or JS and also known as the House of the Nation, is the supreme legislative body of Bangladesh. The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats, including 50 seats reserved for women, which are apportioned on elected party position in the parliament. Elected occupants are called Members of Parliament or MP. The 10th National Parliamentary Election was held on January 05, 2014 and under normal conditions, elections are called every five years.
The leader of the party (or alliance of parties) holding the majority of seats becomes the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and the head of the government. The President of Bangladesh, the ceremonial head of state, is chosen by Parliament.
The parliament is housed in the Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban (জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন Jatio Shôngshod Bhôbon) designed by the American architect, Louis Kahn.
Since the December 2008 national election, the current majority party is the Bangladesh Awami League. It is led by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."
 Now I have to see the movie "My Architect" again made my Louis I Kahn's son.