Custom House

Este edificio pasaría más desapercibido en otras ciudades o en otra ubicación, pero en una ciudad como Dublín donde el tono gris nublado predomina, y no hay grandes edificios y complejos arquitectónicos que asombren en la visita.
El hecho de estar a las faldas del río Liffey hacen que sea más impactante, y aún más a la noche con su iluminación.

The prototype for the White House. Designed by James Gandon, it was completed in 1791 and cost £200,000, which at the time would have bought you a medium sized county. His style greatly influenced James Hoban, who went on to design the US presidential residence.
Sadly, the Custom House houses the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and not our own Obamas, the Cowens.

This is probably the most important building in the country. perhaps I’m going out on a limb in saying that. but when it was built everything about it was controversial and it wasn’t just the design that was the problem.
The architect James Gandon is one of the most important in Irish history. his work can also be seen in the city centre with buildings that may ring a bell … the Four Courts… the porticoes at the Houses of Parliament (Bank of Ireland)… nothing substantial ;)
The design is Palladian, a style that was unique to England and Ireland in the 18^th century and based on a study of the Venetian Renaissance architect Andreo Palladio. James Gandon gave Dublin some of the most impressive buildings of this style and helped put the city on the map.
The decision to place the customs house where it is today was controversial because most were afraid that it would drag commerce from the then city centre (Capel st. /​City hall/​Christ Church Cathedral) down river towards the Customs House. While the city centre has grown large enough to encapsulate all these areas it is fair to say that the College Green/​Stephens Green/​O’Connell Street areas benefited hugely at the time and they too underwent huge renovation.
But as you will notice the Customs house still seems a little exiled at the edge of the city centre. and only since the construction of the IFSC has it begun to feel like the centre of things again…
I love this building and i would recommend a visit to anyone who is looking for a taste of 18^th century Dublin