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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Sculpture, OooH ! Black, Eva Richard

Eva Richard

Sculpture . 13 x 12 x 4 cm Sculpture . 5.1 x 4.7 x 1.6 inch

CHF 146

Painting, Central Park, Vianney

Vianney

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

CHF 3,162

Photography, Illusion, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 156

Fine Art Drawings, Landscape, Myriam Bering

Myriam Bering

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch

CHF 389

Sculpture, Temple, Sylvain Corentin

Sylvain Corentin

Sculpture . 47 x 16 x 8 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 6.3 x 3.1 inch

CHF 487

Sculpture, Tu viens?, Juliette Meynial

Juliette Meynial

Sculpture . 15 x 15.5 x 5 cm Sculpture . 5.9 x 6.1 x 2 inch

CHF 632

Print, Cathedral, Franco Gentilini

Franco Gentilini

Print . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 292

Photography, Time Travel, Soohyun Kim

Soohyun Kim

Photography . 60.96 x 40.64 x 1 cm Photography . 24 x 16 x 0.4 inch

CHF 632

Painting, Morning Mist, Zakhar Shevchuk

Zakhar Shevchuk

Painting . 50 x 60 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.6 inch

CHF 1,265

Painting, Voxel 60, Michael Aubanel

Michael Aubanel

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

CHF 730

Painting, Still: Evening, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 30.4 x 30.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch

CHF 997

Photography, #11, Julien Espiaut

#11

Julien Espiaut

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

CHF 185

Sculpture, 112, Hans Dieter Zingraff

112

Hans Dieter Zingraff

Sculpture . 100 x 136 x 2 cm Sculpture . 39.4 x 53.5 x 0.8 inch

CHF 10,704

Photography, White office, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 195

Photography, Stone wall, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 195

Photography, Rio 1/8, Gaelle S. Warner

Gaelle S. Warner

Photography . 100 x 100 x 1 cm Photography . 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,752

Painting, Liberation Dance, Nikolett

Nikolett

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

CHF 2,433

Painting, Somewhere, Bente Halvorsen

Bente Halvorsen

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

CHF 1,752

Painting, GA-BLA, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Painting . 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

CHF 5,838

Painting, Untitled, Ferran Roca Bon

Ferran Roca Bon

Painting . 33 x 46 cm Painting . 13 x 18.1 inch

CHF 876

Painting, Moment bleu, Em'Ji

Em'Ji

Painting . 62 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 24.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,752