Architecture

Art and architecture share many similarities. They've influenced one another throughout history. However, trying to liken these two disciplines will inevitably lead to certain contractions.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that Art, in its broadest sense, is defined as a creation meant to trigger an emotional response which is generally related to aesthetic pleasure. It doesn't satisfy any of life's basic needs, but it leads to thoughts, reflections, and often taps into our subconscious and our memory. On the other hand, architecture's primary purpose is to shelter individuals and ensure their safety. Architecture is meant to serve a utilitarian purpose.

Today, architecture has gone far beyond this initial function. Architects have strived to combine engineering and aesthetic research to create buildings that are so out of the ordinary we wonder how they were designed. They want their creations to stand out and favour originality and creativity. Just like in arts, architecture is influenced by the historical, social, and political context of the time and each movement has its own characteristics, from baroque to futurism to Bauhaus. Modern architecture marked a turn in the history of architecture. Architects revolutionised the social scope of their discipline and took an industrialist approach to society and nature — avant-garde architects rubbed shoulders with artists such as Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, and members of the De Stijl group. Le Corbusier is a pioneer in collective housing, and also took part in ambitious projects which aimed to rebuild entire cities, such as Chandigarh in India. Decorative arts also developed by taking inspiration from the conventions that governed modernist architecture.

Contemporary architecture might not be a specific movement per se, but buildings that fall into this category share certain attributes. Contemporary architecture is characterised by curvy lines and various volumes in a single structure, as seen with the Sydney Opera House. The architect Jørn Utzon explained that he didn't seek to create a building for this project, but an actual sculpture. The building continually renews itself with new meanings and experiences for each passerby. Architectural works often require periods of deep reflection and a long though process in order for the architect to envisage how to give their building a sense of character and soul.

Whether architecture is an art or not is a never ending debate, but it is undeniable that there are strong links between the two disciplines. There are many examples of collaborations between contemporary artists and architects, and today the works of the greatest architects are exhibited in museums along with their fellow artists.

Discover our selections of artworks inspired by art and architecture!

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Print, La Pyramide, JR

La Pyramide

JR

Print - 60 x 80 x 2 cm Print - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€1,290

Photography, Alex, Georges Rousse

Alex

Georges Rousse

Photography - 30 x 35 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€2,600

Painting, Layers, Stanislav Lazarov

Layers

Stanislav Lazarov

Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,600

Photography, 2007 Windows, Javier Rey

2007 Windows

Javier Rey

Photography - 58.5 x 80 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

€1,141

Photography, Poolside Ladies, Slim Aarons

Poolside Ladies

Slim Aarons

Photography - 31 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography - 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€2,280

Painting, Temples, Albena Vatcheva

Temples

Albena Vatcheva

Painting - 55 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€800

Photography, N°2076, Jean-Paul Baret

N°2076

Jean-Paul Baret

Photography - 110 x 60 cm Photography - 43.3 x 23.6 inch

€820

Painting, The tree, LOg

The tree

LOg

Painting - 30 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Sunset Boulevard, LOg

Sunset Boulevard

LOg

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, Village II, Xiu

Village II

Xiu

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Village 102, Xiu

Village 102

Xiu

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Sud, Marie Deforche

Sud

Marie Deforche

Painting - 73 x 91 x 4 cm Painting - 28.7 x 35.8 x 1.6 inch

€1,800

Painting, Ella, Marie Deforche

Ella

Marie Deforche

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€1,750

Painting, Vue sur mer, Sylvie Eudes

Vue sur mer

Sylvie Eudes

Painting - 120 x 120 x 5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 2 inch

€5,400

Painting, L’Œil, Michaël Brack

L’Œil

Michaël Brack

Painting - 50 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 24 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Window, Wang Dianyu

Window

Wang Dianyu

Painting - 70 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,300

Fine Art Drawings, XX146150, Pierre Muckensturm

XX146150

Pierre Muckensturm

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€650

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