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, St pancras, Valerie Le Meur

Valerie Le Meur

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

CHF 2,238

Painting, Blue, Helen Uter

Helen Uter

Painting . 116 x 89 x 2.5 cm Painting . 45.7 x 35 x 1 inch

CHF 3,406

Fine Art Drawings, Rayon vert 12, Robin Obitz

Robin Obitz

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,752

Painting, Meeting, Asher Topel

Asher Topel

Painting . 61 x 79.2 x 7.1 cm Painting . 24 x 31.2 x 2.8 inch

CHF 1,337

Painting, Provance 12, Magdalena Nalecz

Magdalena Nalecz

Painting . 60 x 80 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 inch

CHF 1,362 CHF 1,226

Painting, Up to the sky, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

Painting . 73 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 28.7 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 3,308

Painting, Urban Illusion, GraffMatt

GraffMatt

Painting . 29 x 19 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 7.5 x 0.2 inch

CHF 263 CHF 236

Painting, Madwell, Nelson Fabiano

Nelson Fabiano

Painting . 146 x 114 x 2 cm Painting . 57.5 x 44.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 9,341

Photography, Interruption 1, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 70 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,046

Painting, Locarno, Ylg

Ylg

Painting . 33 x 44 x 0.8 cm Painting . 13 x 17.3 x 0.3 inch

CHF 1,029

Painting, Scène urbaine, Harry Urban

Harry Urban

Painting . 32 x 41.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12.6 x 16.3 x 0.2 inch

CHF 911

Sculpture, Giants, High jump in Rio, JR

JR

Sculpture . 99 x 55 x 20 cm Sculpture . 39 x 21.7 x 7.9 inch

CHF 9,731

Painting, La veillée, Monkeybird

Monkeybird

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,433

Painting, Un temps pour soi, Alione

Alione

Painting . 90 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 35.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 4,282

Photography, Disorder, Cécile Baldewyns

Cécile Baldewyns

Photography . 75 x 50 x 0.04 cm Photography . 29.5 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 876

Fine Art Drawings, Literary Escape 6, Kurar

Kurar

Fine Art Drawings . 100 x 70 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 3,308

Painting, The Quiet Hour, Kseniya Rai

Kseniya Rai

Painting . 156 x 132 x 2 cm Painting . 61.4 x 52 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,362

Painting, Untitled, Ferran Roca Bon

Ferran Roca Bon

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

CHF 876

Painting, Temptation, Alexandra Zamfir

Alexandra Zamfir

Painting . 80 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,698

Painting, Dazibao, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 22 x 32 x 4 cm Painting . 8.7 x 12.6 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,168

Fine Art Drawings, Rainbow, Pauline Di Valentin

Pauline Di Valentin

Fine Art Drawings . 150 x 80 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 59.1 x 31.5 x 0 inch

CHF 2,919

Painting, Rincón Kioto, M. Muro

M. Muro

Painting . 40 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,919

Print, Easy man, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 100 x 140 x 4.5 cm Print . 39.4 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

CHF 456

Photography, Motel, Nicolas Boutruche

Nicolas Boutruche

Photography . 60 x 150 x 2 cm Photography . 23.6 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 7,785

Painting, Night Pool, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

CHF 778

Painting, Paimpol, Jacques Guillet

Jacques Guillet

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

CHF 876

Painting, Saburtalo, Irakli Chikovani

Irakli Chikovani

Painting . 78 x 95 x 3 cm Painting . 30.7 x 37.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,946

Painting, Orange Factory, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 80 x 188 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 74 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,187

Painting, Window, Wang Dianyu

Wang Dianyu

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

CHF 1,265

Photography, Poplanco #3, Edmund Sumner

Edmund Sumner

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

CHF 2,244