Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban or National Parliament House is the house of the Parliament of Bangladesh designed by architect Louis Kahn. The complex is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world, comprising 200 acres (800,000 m²). Jatiyo Sangshad was designed by Louis Kahn. Initially, the government had appointed Muzharul Islam as the center's architect, but Islam deferred, instead recommending bringing in the world's top architects for the project. He initially attempted to bring Alvar Aalto and Le Corbusier, who were both unavailable at the time. Islam then enlisted Louis Kahn, his former teacher at Yale. The design of the capital complex was developed taking into account the aesthetic heritage of Bengal, particularly including the Ganges delta. Construction began in 1961 as a permanent building for the federal legislature of both West Pakistan and East Pakistan and was completed after the country's war of independence and several decades - on 28 January 1982. The complex opened the following month on 15 February for the eighth session of the second parliament of Bangladesh and since has been operating as the sole complex for the National Assembly. Louis Kahn designed the entire complex which includes lawns, lake and residences for the Members of the Parliament (MPs).The architect’s key design philosophy was to represent Bangladeshi culture and heritage, while at the same time optimizing the use of space. The exterior of the building is striking in its simplicity, with huge walls deeply recessed by porticoes and large openings of regular geometric shapes. The main building, which is at the center of the complex, is divided into three parts – the Main Plaza, South Plaza and Presidential Plaza. An artificial lake surrounds three sides of the main building extending to the Members of Parliament hostel complex. This skillful use of water to portray the riverine beauty of Bangladesh adds to the aesthetic value of the site.