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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Painting, Z Airport, Levon Fljyan

Levon Fljyan

Painting . 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 777

Painting, la belle notre dame, Liao

Liao

Painting . 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,040

Painting, Miami, Véro Blaise

Véro Blaise

Painting . 110 x 110 x 2.5 cm Painting . 43.3 x 43.3 x 1 inch

CHF 3,011

Painting, Icarus 8, Edward Shahda

Edward Shahda

Painting . 37 x 54 cm Painting . 14.6 x 21.3 inch

CHF 1,652

Painting, Bledi, Moi.

Moi.

Painting . 73 x 92 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,943

Painting, White, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

Painting . 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,817

Photography, Untitled #42, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

Photography . 25 x 30 cm Photography . 9.8 x 11.8 inch

CHF 1,069

Painting, Blue Thames, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

Painting . 30 x 91 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 35.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,123

Painting, Elprup, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Painting . 110 x 125 x 2 cm Painting . 43.3 x 49.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 15,156

Painting, Selo - R, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting . 89 x 130 x 2 cm Painting . 35 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,166

Painting, Floating in love, Lilly Muth

Lilly Muth

Painting . 80 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,652

Photography, Central Park, Nadine Track

Nadine Track

Photography . 122 x 191 cm Photography . 48 x 75.2 inch

CHF 8,744

Painting, Convivencia, Reyner

Reyner

Painting . 70 x 53.5 x 0.05 cm Painting . 27.6 x 21.1 x 0 inch

CHF 1,618

Photography, Tripe 12, Thomas Ruff

Thomas Ruff

Photography . 40 x 50 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 inch

CHF 2,186

Fine Art Drawings, Small Corner, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 437

Painting, Gavinana, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

CHF 146

Painting, Flip, Aphisit Sidsunthia

Aphisit Sidsunthia

Painting . 51 x 51 x 4 cm Painting . 20.1 x 20.1 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,729

Print, Bag End, Brian Reedy

Brian Reedy

Print . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Print . 20 x 20 inch

CHF 243

Painting, Sunny Moments, Vianney

Vianney

Painting . 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,158

Painting, City, Jaume Genovart

Jaume Genovart

Painting . 61 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 24 x 15 x 0.8 inch

CHF 874

Fine Art Drawings, Provencale No. 12, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 16.5 x 0 inch

CHF 1,360

Photography, Inagawa AM, Edmund Sumner

Edmund Sumner

Photography . 58.5 x 46.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23 x 18.1 x 0 inch

CHF 1,062