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, Afternoon, Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander

Print . 58.4 x 43.2 x 5.1 cm Print . 23 x 17 x 2 inch

CHF 490

Painting, Mikonos, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 45 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 15 x 1.2 inch

CHF 973

Painting, Street of Hometown, Liu Ziyu

Liu Ziyu

Painting . 41 x 68 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 26.8 x 0 inch

CHF 1,849

Painting, Back in the days, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 19 x 14 x 1 cm Painting . 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inch

CHF 243

Print, Untitled, Jorge Castillo

Jorge Castillo

Print . 91 x 107 cm Print . 35.8 x 42.1 inch

CHF 1,070

Print, Untitled, Luis Fernández

Luis Fernández

Print . 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

CHF 216

Print, Circ, Àlex Prunés

Àlex Prunés

Print . 12.5 x 16.5 cm Print . 4.9 x 6.5 inch

CHF 195

Painting, Selo-S.V, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

CHF 973

Fine Art Drawings, Castle Amboise, 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, Venise 2, Daniel Jung

Daniel Jung

Painting . 100 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 31.5 x 1 inch

CHF 1,314

Fine Art Drawings, The Ponte Vecchio, Eugene Pons

Eugene Pons

Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 28 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 11 x 0.1 inch

CHF 234

Photography, Inflatabale, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

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

CHF 195

Photography, Motel, Nicolas Boutruche

Nicolas Boutruche

Photography . 80 x 200 x 2 cm Photography . 31.5 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 12,358

Photography, Apartments, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

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

CHF 195

Painting, Untitled, Ferran Roca Bon

Ferran Roca Bon

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

CHF 2,335

Photography, Greek facade, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

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

CHF 195

Photography, Red wall, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

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

CHF 195

Painting, Home Owner, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,382

Painting, S.t, Tonino Guerra

S.t

Tonino Guerra

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,627

Photography, Stories #2, Edmund Sumner

Edmund Sumner

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

CHF 2,244

Fine Art Drawings, Theatrical Scene, Eugene Berman

Eugene Berman

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch

CHF 487

Painting, Solitude, Fabien Gäng

Fabien Gäng

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,478

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Camille Adra

Camille Adra

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 195

Painting, The Palace, Manuel Santelices

Manuel Santelices

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.1 inch

CHF 847

Painting, Lluita, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 40.3 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 15.9 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,192

Painting, Windy field, Ilona Sh.

Ilona Sh.

Painting . 60 x 70 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 632

Fine Art Drawings, Pastel Cityscape V, Ivan Tverdun

Ivan Tverdun

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch

CHF 681

Fine Art Drawings, Pastel Cityscape IV, Ivan Tverdun

Ivan Tverdun

Fine Art Drawings . 54 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 21.3 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 681

Photography, Flamingo, Regis Duvignau

Regis Duvignau

Photography . 115 x 115 x 2 cm Photography . 45.3 x 45.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 954

Painting, Dinan, Jacques Guillet

Jacques Guillet

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

CHF 1,654

Painting, Villa Belza, Sabine Kalka

Sabine Kalka

Painting . 98 x 146 x 2 cm Painting . 38.6 x 57.5 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,919

Print, Twin Palms, Carrie Graber

Carrie Graber

Print . 114.3 x 76.2 x 3.8 cm Print . 45 x 30 x 1.5 inch

CHF 1,444

Painting, Midday, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 200 x 140 x 2 cm Painting . 78.7 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 8,758