ArchiAssets

Adaptive Reuse Proposal for New National Museum at the Custom House Dublin (2018 / 2019)

The Proposal Illustrates the Potential for the Adaptive Reuse of the Customs House from Government Offices to a new National Museum to rehouse the extensive National Archaeological collection within a more spacious and prominent public setting. The proposal also suggests relocation of a portion of the Chester Beatty collection. The Proposal is informed by visits to the Singapore National Art Gallery in December 2015 and the Great Court at the British Museum in 2018. The Proposal initially centred around the retention of the current Courtyard Configuration with a Glazed Gridshell Roof to span over both Courtyards. Enhancement of the Internal Facades was suggested at this point along with Rooftop Space for Reading / Cafe / Dining. This Iteration suggested Tree shaped Steel Supercolumns to support a Steel Gridshell Roof structure.

Aerial View of Custom House Context + Proposed Interventions (2019)

A subsequent variation was proposed where the Existing Courtyard arrangement would be entirely Re-Configured to allow for a Newly Constructed curved Central Feature in a Neo-Classical Style. This would result in a much Grander Public Space comparable in scale to the Great Court at the British Museum in London, and result in more straightforward circulation between the Courtyard and the Custom House Wings which would house most of the Archaeological Exhibits. It offers the possibility of Rooftop Space overlooking both the newly configured Courtyard and the Customs House Dome. This ‘Great Court’ arrangement sets up a dramatic entrance from below (subject to investigation of the Historic Raft Foundation) and an equally dramatic transition from the more intimate Southern Entrance for special events where more limited visitor numbers would be anticipated.


The Proposal suggests a New Subterranean Arrival Hall to Beresford Place housing Cloakrooms, Washrooms etc, with a Route under the Northern Facade under and up into the Courtyard in a manner similar to the Louvre by I.M. Pei. There is a Public Plaza and Classical Riverside Garden proposed in lieu of the existing Roadway to the Quayfront. A Riverfront Walkway is proposed , referencing the shape of a Celtic Torc / Torque with the widest section facilitating the congregation of pedestrians at the Riverfront. Outline suggestions followed for Liberty Hall as a Classical Tower and for the Reconfiguration of the Loop Line Bridge to allow for restoration of the view of the Customs House from O’Connell Bridge.

Liberty Hall as Classical Tower of circa 15 Storeys (2024)

Preliminary Concept Evaluation using Ai (Grok 3 Beta)