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, Au delà, Florence Boré

Florence Boré

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 973

Painting, La loma, Chicho

Chicho

Painting . 100 x 70 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,530

Photography, Diaphanes, Frédéric Khodja

Frédéric Khodja

Photography . 13 x 18 x 0.1 cm Photography . 5.1 x 7.1 x 0 inch

CHF 584

Painting, Pont Wilson, Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 40.6 x 30 x 5.1 cm Painting . 16 x 11.8 x 2 inch

CHF 1,898

Photography, Klinik, Gina Soden

Gina Soden

Photography . 44.6 x 65 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.6 x 25.6 x 0 inch

CHF 1,421

Painting, Untitled, Albert Castañé

Albert Castañé

Painting . 54 x 65 cm Painting . 21.3 x 25.6 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, Sans Titre, Christian Allard

Christian Allard

Painting . 60 x 72 x 4 cm Painting . 23.6 x 28.3 x 1.6 inch

CHF 3,552

Painting, Pausa Azzurra, Valia

Valia

Painting . 80 x 60 x 0.1 cm Painting . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0 inch

CHF 477

Painting, Landscape 01, Timm Blandin

Timm Blandin

Painting . 146 x 97 x 3 cm Painting . 57.5 x 38.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 6,617

Painting, Venice, Elena Chulkova

Elena Chulkova

Painting . 60 x 50 x 1.8 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.7 inch

CHF 1,946

Painting, On the bridge, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

CHF 1,557

Print, Venice, Veronika Benoni

Veronika Benoni

Print . 32 x 62 x 2 cm Print . 12.6 x 24.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 477

Print, Capri 2, Tom Krøjer

Tom Krøjer

Print . 74 x 54.5 cm Print . 29.1 x 21.5 inch

CHF 331

Painting, Briques, Thomas Berthier

Thomas Berthier

Painting . 67 x 100 x 0.1 cm Painting . 26.4 x 39.4 x 0 inch

CHF 1,460

Painting, Dubrovnik, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

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

CHF 8,912

Painting, Escape, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

CHF 3,406

Photography, Majestic, Nicolas Boutruche

Nicolas Boutruche

Photography . 130 x 130 x 2 cm Photography . 51.2 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 11,292

Painting, Pont du Gard, Natalia Kuruch

Natalia Kuruch

Painting . 80 x 120 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 3,124

Painting, In 10 minutes, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,713

Sculpture, Forties, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture . 64 x 23.5 x 23.5 cm Sculpture . 25.2 x 9.3 x 9.3 inch

CHF 2,160

Photography, 2007 Windows, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

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

CHF 1,083

Sculpture, Hommage à Eiffel, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 38 x 24 x 9 cm Sculpture . 15 x 9.4 x 3.5 inch

CHF 6,812

Print, Quadriga 2, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Print . 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Print . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 827

Photography, The New Thinker, Akabat Str8t

Akabat Str8t

Photography . 30.2 x 20.2 x 0.01 cm Photography . 11.9 x 8 x 0 inch

CHF 341

Painting, Eco Tour, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

CHF 141