Rahman's early work in Delhi was marked by an over-emphasis on exposing structural concrete frames and an indiscriminate use of sun louvres influenced by Brasilia. It took him several years to realize that there was no clear scientific rationale for the way he was using louvres. The turning point came when Nehru rejected his first proposal for Rabindra Bhawan in 1959. His drawings featured extensive louvres. Barada Ukil, the Secretary of the Lal it Kala Akademi, encouraged a disheartened Rahman to try again. This forced him to evolve a fresh new vocabulary for fenestration and shading devices.