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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Fine Art Drawings, Night, Sergey Pietilä

Sergey Pietilä

Fine Art Drawings . 72 x 80 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 28.3 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,433

Painting, You See It Too, Seromo Okoro

Seromo Okoro

Painting . 91.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting . 36 x 48 x 1.5 inch

CHF 2,228

Fine Art Drawings, Sous la lune rouge, Mascarade

Mascarade

Fine Art Drawings . 76 x 56 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 29.9 x 22 x 0.1 inch

CHF 973

Photography, Voir, Marie VDB

Marie VDB

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

CHF 584

Painting, Autumn Landscape, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 243

Photography, One plant, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

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

CHF 195

Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Jean Revol

Jean Revol

Fine Art Drawings . 45.5 x 60.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.9 x 23.8 x 0 inch

CHF 389

Photography, Altar, Wataru Furuta

Wataru Furuta

Photography . 40 x 80 x 0.2 cm Photography . 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,043

Painting, Saint Augustine, Marco Araldi

Marco Araldi

Painting . 110 x 50.5 x 5 cm Painting . 43.3 x 19.9 x 2 inch

CHF 2,953

Painting, Casa, Sofia Beltadze

Sofia Beltadze

Painting . 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,460

Photography, Stories #3, Edmund Sumner

Edmund Sumner

Photography . 54 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography . 21.3 x 27.6 x 0 inch

CHF 2,244

Painting, Old House, Zakhar Shevchuk

Zakhar Shevchuk

Painting . 69 x 82 x 2 cm Painting . 27.2 x 32.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,092

Fine Art Drawings, Allegory, Jean-Raymond Delpech

Jean-Raymond Delpech

Fine Art Drawings . 14.6 x 23.2 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 5.7 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 243

Print, Fondue, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 50 x 100 x 4.5 cm Print . 19.7 x 39.4 x 1.8 inch

CHF 233

Print, Perdre, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 70 x 100 x 4.5 cm Print . 27.6 x 39.4 x 1.8 inch

CHF 252

Print, Perdre, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

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

CHF 456

Print, Le salon, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

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

CHF 320

Print, Spoleto, Paolo Grimaldi

Paolo Grimaldi

Print . 51 x 101 cm Print . 20.1 x 39.8 inch

CHF 584

Photography, Lisbon #21 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 55.9 x 109.2 cm Photography . 22 x 43 inch

CHF 9,002

Painting, Detroit, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,919

Photography, Calm corner, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

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

CHF 195

Painting, Blue Reflection, Amy Nelder

Amy Nelder

Painting . 85.1 x 52.7 x 3.2 cm Painting . 33.5 x 20.75 x 1.25 inch

CHF 6,685

Fine Art Drawings, Palermo_5, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

CHF 1,849

Photography, Double Life, Téber

Téber

Photography . 50.3 x 50.3 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.8 x 19.8 x 0 inch

CHF 973

Painting, Tulips, Evgeny Chernyakovsky

Evgeny Chernyakovsky

Painting . 80 x 70 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,337

Painting, Afterglow, David Hinchliffe

David Hinchliffe

Painting . 120 x 180 x 4 cm Painting . 47.2 x 70.9 x 1.6 inch

CHF 4,135

Painting, Laval, Jacques Guillet

Jacques Guillet

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

CHF 1,460

Print, Les Alpilles, Claude Gaveau

Claude Gaveau

Print . 57.6 x 56.9 x 0.2 cm Print . 22.7 x 22.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 584

Photography, Mr DZ, Charly Desoubry

Charly Desoubry

Photography . 50 x 90 x 0.5 cm Photography . 19.7 x 35.4 x 0.2 inch

CHF 584

Painting, Ropas, Josefa Sanz del Amo

Josefa Sanz del Amo

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

CHF 1,752