Originally meant as a Pakistani government building, Kahn's monumental design became the seat of the government of Bangladesh when the country split in two. It's as bold and commanding a symbol of young democracy as the world has ever seen; eight concrete modules envelop a center space cloaked in white marble, while the surrounding artificial lake provides natural cooling and a dramatic backdrop. Photo 3 of 11 in 10 Works of Architecture That Reveal the Acrobatic Wonders of Concrete from Design Icon: 9 Buildings by Louis Kahn

10 Works of Architecture That Reveal the Acrobatic Wonders of Concrete

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The National Assembly Building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was designed in 1962 by the famous American architect Louis Kahn, who was known for using concrete to create unique, bold forms that would have otherwise been impossible to construct.