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, Le Bassin, Marie Deforche

Marie Deforche

Print . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 214

Painting, Yellow Barn, Roy Fairchild

Roy Fairchild

Painting . 53 x 85 x 2 cm Painting . 20.9 x 33.5 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,480

Fine Art Drawings, The Castellan, Florisa Cordova

Florisa Cordova

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 14 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 5.5 x 0 inch

CHF 243

Painting, La toile dans la toile, Moi.

Moi.

Painting . 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,141

Photography, One (M), Streety

Streety

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 341

Photography, Calle del Ridotto, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 869

Photography, AXF_Burano_VE_02, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

CHF 1,216

Photography, Vedado, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 99.8 x 74.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 39.3 x 29.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,228

Fine Art Drawings, La caffettiera conica, Aldo Rossi

Aldo Rossi

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 4,768

Photography, Passage, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,376

Painting, Ellis island, Valerie Le Meur

Valerie Le Meur

Painting . 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,433

Fine Art Drawings, View, Nicolas Damianakis

Nicolas Damianakis

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 31.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 12.4 x 0 inch

CHF 292

Photography, Circus, Katerina Belkina

Katerina Belkina

Photography . 30 x 40 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 inch

CHF 1,783

Photography, Optimiste, Mélina Bismuth

Mélina Bismuth

Photography . 84.5 x 90 x 2 cm Photography . 33.3 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,406

Photography, La Fenice, Erich Auerbach

Erich Auerbach

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

CHF 949

Painting, Vianney, Vianney

Vianney

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

CHF 2,822

Photography, NYC, Jean-François Levere

NYC

Jean-François Levere

Photography . 73 x 110 x 0.1 cm Photography . 28.7 x 43.3 x 0 inch

CHF 2,433

Photography, Le Roi des Aulnes, AES + F

AES + F

Photography . 120 x 140 x 1 cm Photography . 47.2 x 55.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 29,192

Print, Istanbul I, Sukran Ulucan

Sukran Ulucan

Print . 49 x 30 x 0.3 cm Print . 19.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 632

Design, Let's Go VI, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Design . 43.5 x 27 x 12.5 cm Design . 17.1 x 10.6 x 4.9 inch

CHF 2,937

Painting, Bruges, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 40.3 x 0.4 cm Painting . 15.9 x 15.9 x 0.2 inch

CHF 997

Painting, You See It Too, Seromo Okoro

Seromo Okoro

Painting . 91.4 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 36 x 48 x 1 inch

CHF 2,228

Painting, Scène Parisienne, G.Marin

G.Marin

Painting . 30 x 40 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 2 inch

CHF 798

Painting, Cadiz, Véro Blaise

Véro Blaise

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 885

Painting, Venecia, Rafael Griera

Rafael Griera

Painting . 35 x 44 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

CHF 584

Sculpture, Cubic #4, Gil Bruvel

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture . 71 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture . 28 x 11 x 11 inch

CHF 19,461

Painting, Life is easy, Icy & Sot

Icy & Sot

Painting . 90.2 x 119.4 x 5.1 cm Painting . 35.5 x 47 x 2 inch

CHF 12,478

Print, Agora, Marc Prat

Marc Prat

Print . 62 x 96 cm Print . 24.4 x 37.8 inch

CHF 632

Photography, 1004 Windows, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 100 x 66.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 39.4 x 26.2 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,382

Painting, Les Amies, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

CHF 3,503

Painting, Voxel 120, Michael Aubanel

Michael Aubanel

Painting . 32 x 32 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12.6 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 535

Print, Monet studio, Damien Elwes

Damien Elwes

Print . 78.7 x 91.4 x 5.1 cm Print . 31 x 36 x 2 inch

CHF 1,738