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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Photography, NL #34, Charles Weber

Charles Weber

Photography . 70 x 70 cm Photography . 27.6 x 27.6 inch

CHF 2,530

Print, White Palm Tower, 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, Lisbon #22 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

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

CHF 9,002

Painting, Selo G, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting . 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 78

Painting, Jazz a Nice, Richard Boigeol

Richard Boigeol

Painting . 73 x 92 x 2.5 cm Painting . 28.7 x 36.2 x 1 inch

CHF 3,308

Painting, Memories, Alexander Dobrodiy

Alexander Dobrodiy

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

CHF 1,839

Painting, View of Portsoy, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 35 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 939

Painting, Village I, Xiu

Xiu

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

CHF 584

Painting, Venise, Vincent Pompetti

Vincent Pompetti

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

CHF 1,070 CHF 963

Photography, Misery, Léa Bon

Léa Bon

Photography . 39.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,496

Painting, Warm Entryway, Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 223

Photography, Intervals 2., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

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

CHF 311

Painting, Morning chime, Dmitry Artim

Dmitry Artim

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

CHF 535

Photography, Contour, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 820

Painting, Prague, Clara Duch

Clara Duch

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

CHF 2,919

Painting, Bay City, Frank De Blok

Frank De Blok

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

CHF 1,070

Painting, An old village, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

CHF 876

Painting, Old house, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

CHF 874