Clockwise from top left: Rashtrapati Bhavan in India, Palacio da Alvorada in Brazil, Prague Castle in the Czech Republic, and cin South Korea While the race for the White House may seem like it's already lasted an entire four-year term, the real battle traditionally begins this month, as hopefuls start fighting in earnest for votes and delegates in Iowa and New Hampshire. There are plenty of reasons politicians spend years battling for the presidency; the opportunity to live in the Neoclassical masterpiece at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban, who won a prize to envision a then-new presidential residence in 1792, is just one.