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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Painting, Georgia is Here, Nino Nasidze

Nino Nasidze

Painting . 120 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,623

Painting, I Love NY, Katrina Avotina

Katrina Avotina

Painting . 81 x 61 x 2 cm Painting . 31.9 x 24 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,099

Painting, Campos, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

CHF 3,498

Painting, North in summer, Luong Trung

Luong Trung

Painting . 100 x 120 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 5,586

Sculpture, Midi, Egor Plotnikov

Egor Plotnikov

Sculpture . 13 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 5.1 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

CHF 874

Painting, Bayamo II, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting . 167.6 x 137.2 x 3.6 cm Painting . 66 x 54 x 1.4 inch

CHF 16,018

Painting, Voxel 110, Michael Aubanel

Michael Aubanel

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

CHF 729

Photography, Ljubljana, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

Photography . 105 x 70 x 1 cm Photography . 41.3 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,418

Photography, Biarritz, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

Photography . 70 x 105 x 1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,418

Photography, Ustica, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

Photography . 70 x 105 x 1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,418

Painting, Bank Street 2, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

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

CHF 874

Photography, #9, Julien Espiaut

#9

Julien Espiaut

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

CHF 185

Photography, AXF_Bridge_TK_01, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography . 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch

CHF 1,214

Photography, Miami Beach, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 84.8 x 63 x 0.3 cm Photography . 33.4 x 24.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,225

Photography, Awakening, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,111

Painting, Italian town, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

Painting . 39.9 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 388

Painting, Marbella, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 36 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11 x 1.2 inch

CHF 777

Painting, Red Barn, Chris Ritter

Chris Ritter

Painting . 48.8 x 61 x 0.3 cm Painting . 19.23 x 24 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,135

Photography, Garage doors, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

Photography . 69 x 90 x 2 cm Photography . 27.2 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,592

Painting, Village, Daozhou Huang

Daozhou Huang

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

CHF 437

Painting, Embrasement, Muriel Deumie

Muriel Deumie

Painting . 73 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,166

Painting, Son Of A Man, Amir Kerr

Amir Kerr

Painting . 80 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 6,230

Photography, Don de soi 4, Feng Kaixuan

Feng Kaixuan

Photography . 60 x 90 x 1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch

CHF 4,858

Photography, MACBA Barcelona, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 70 x 100 x 0.2 cm Photography . 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 826

Painting, Au bord de l'Aveyron, Navema

Navema

Painting . 50 x 70 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 933