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, Lotus 17, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 30 x 13 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 438

Photography, Royal city, Bze Bzeland

Bze Bzeland

Photography . 32.9 x 48.3 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13 x 19 x 0 inch

CHF 243

Photography, Double expo, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

Photography . 50 x 75 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 29.5 x 0.4 inch

CHF 954

Photography, Erasmusbrug, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

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

CHF 910

Photography, Rijnkaii V, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 88 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 890

Photography, Rijnkaai III, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 88 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 890

Photography, Rijnkaai I, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 88 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 890

Print, 8 de coeur, Isabelle Lutter

Isabelle Lutter

Print . 84.3 x 60 x 1.4 cm Print . 33.2 x 23.6 x 0.6 inch

CHF 3,406

Painting, Winter, Piotr Fafrowicz

Piotr Fafrowicz

Painting . 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch

CHF 730

Fine Art Drawings, Pastel Cityscape II, Ivan Tverdun

Ivan Tverdun

Fine Art Drawings . 48.5 x 63 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.1 x 24.8 x 0 inch

CHF 389

Painting, Good-bye, Emmanuelle Vroelant

Emmanuelle Vroelant

Painting . 80 x 120 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 4,476

Photography, Walden 7, Serie V, Arantza NT

Arantza NT

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 195

Photography, Zoo Palast, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 100 x 140 x 0.3 cm Photography . 39.4 x 55.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,187

Painting, Log Cabin, Nicoleta Stati

Nicoleta Stati

Painting . 30 x 52 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 20.5 x 1 inch

CHF 1,069

Photography, The Way Home 2, Inji Woo

Inji Woo

Photography . 40.64 x 60.96 x 1 cm Photography . 16 x 24 x 0.4 inch

CHF 632

Fine Art Drawings, Château, Hermann Paul

Hermann Paul

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 25.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 10 x 0.1 inch

CHF 389

Fine Art Drawings, Italian Church, Olga Korneeva

Olga Korneeva

Fine Art Drawings . 17 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 6.7 x 9.8 x 0 inch

CHF 88

Painting, Certaldo, Andrzej Borowski

Andrzej Borowski

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

CHF 1,265

Photography, Tomorrows world, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

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

CHF 2,303

Painting, Gateway 4, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

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

CHF 768

Painting, Beach house, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting . 183 x 142 cm Painting . 72 x 55.9 inch

CHF 14,352

Painting, Chez Louise, Carlo Maiolini

Carlo Maiolini

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

CHF 1,606

Photography, Marbella Castle, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Photography . 80 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0 inch

CHF 827

Print, Surreal Foyer 2, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Print . 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Print . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 827

Print, Surreal Foyer 1, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Print . 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Print . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 827

Painting, Al-Batín, Marta Aguirre

Marta Aguirre

Painting . 146 x 114 cm Painting . 57.5 x 44.9 inch

CHF 5,547

Photography, Karaoke, Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

CHF 5,352

Painting, El Palau BCN, M. Muro

M. Muro

Painting . 60 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,530