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, Evening Street, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 10 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 3.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch

CHF 1,069

Painting, September, Alain Churlaud

Alain Churlaud

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

CHF 777

Painting, Les barques rouges, Autonne

Autonne

Painting . 122 x 76 x 4 cm Painting . 48 x 29.9 x 1.6 inch

CHF 4,663

Sculpture, Tour Eiffel logos, PyB

PyB

Sculpture . 32 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch

CHF 185

Painting, Car Wash, Nathan Rhoads

Nathan Rhoads

Painting . 91.4 x 61 x 3.8 cm Painting . 36 x 24 x 1.5 inch

CHF 6,158

Photography, Dianatempel, Bernhard Lang

Bernhard Lang

Photography . 96 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography . 37.8 x 47.2 x 0 inch

CHF 1,749

Photography, Badekultur, Gina Soden

Gina Soden

Photography . 65 x 53 x 0.1 cm Photography . 25.6 x 20.9 x 0 inch

CHF 1,418

Painting, Sin título, Emilio Tejada

Emilio Tejada

Painting . 65 x 54 x 5 cm Painting . 25.6 x 21.3 x 2 inch

CHF 884

Fine Art Drawings, Théorèmes #1, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

CHF 777

Painting, Voxel 122, Michael Aubanel

Michael Aubanel

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

CHF 632

Photography, Souvenir II, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,360

Painting, Marrakech, Véro Blaise

Véro Blaise

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

CHF 632

Painting, Relaxamento, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

CHF 3,498

Painting, Montagne, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 54 x 81 x 4 cm Painting . 21.3 x 31.9 x 1.6 inch

CHF 3,400

Painting, Vue Parisienne, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

CHF 3,498

Photography, Varna Pool, Robert Edward

Robert Edward

Photography . 48.3 x 33 cm Photography . 19 x 13 inch

CHF 151

Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Jean Revol

Jean Revol

Fine Art Drawings . 43.3 x 62.4 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17 x 24.6 x 0 inch

CHF 389

Painting, Architecture, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting . 100 x 200 x 1 cm Painting . 39.4 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,895

Painting, Winter, Clara Duch

Clara Duch

Painting . 81 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting . 31.9 x 39.4 x 1 inch

CHF 2,720

Painting, Sunny day, Yehor Dulin

Yehor Dulin

Painting . 40 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 803 CHF 563

Photography, Volantin, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,184

Print, Tempio, Tino Stefanoni

Tino Stefanoni

Print . 50 x 140 x 1 cm Print . 19.7 x 55.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 711

Painting, Venise, Jacques Gorde

Jacques Gorde

Painting . 110 x 160 x 2 cm Painting . 43.3 x 63 x 0.8 inch

CHF 7,287

Photography, 195 Flats, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

Photography . 110 x 120 x 2 cm Photography . 43.3 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,479

Painting, Nice II, Andrzej Borowski

Andrzej Borowski

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

CHF 2,429

Painting, Porte B2, Kardesch

Kardesch

Painting . 100 x 81 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 31.9 x 1 inch

CHF 4,858

Photography, New York #5 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 109.2 x 71.1 cm Photography . 43 x 28 inch

CHF 8,988