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, Karaoke, Camille Levert

Camille Levert

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

CHF 5,343

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 2,526

Painting, Nova 220, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 33 x 46 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,915

Print, Or noir, Damien Mauro

Damien Mauro

Print . 40 x 40 x 2 cm Print . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 874

Painting, Brant Point, David Sipko

David Sipko

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 2 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.8 inch

CHF 757

Painting, Selo V, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

CHF 78

Painting, Santorini, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

Painting . 60 x 60 x 1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,554

Painting, Notre Dame de Paris, PyB

PyB

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

CHF 194

Painting, Street, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 65 x 55 x 2 cm Painting . 25.6 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 777

Painting, The 50, Pappay

Pappay

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

CHF 486

Print, Elements, Carrie Graber

Carrie Graber

Print . 61 x 61 x 3.8 cm Print . 24 x 24 x 1.5 inch

CHF 845

Print, Portal 04, Technicolora

Technicolora

Print . 62.5 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 24.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 466

Photography, Nelda's Pool, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 31 x 41 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 inch

CHF 1,992

Print, Untitled, Jorge Castillo

Jorge Castillo

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

CHF 1,069

Painting, Megapolis 6, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

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

CHF 2,672

Painting, Spring, Giorgi Kukhalashvili

Giorgi Kukhalashvili

Painting . 60 x 65 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,749

Painting, End Home, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 41 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 534

Photography, Opéra, Vanessa Vercel

Vanessa Vercel

Photography . 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography . 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,263

Sculpture, Extra 02, Manon Oller

Manon Oller

Sculpture . 25 x 19 x 12 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch

CHF 486

Painting, Dawes Point, 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 996

Painting, Screenshot, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

CHF 2,623

Photography, Sem Luz, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 69.9 x 69.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 27.5 x 27.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,225

Photography, Bambous, Regis Duvignau

Regis Duvignau

Photography . 90 x 115 x 1 cm Photography . 35.4 x 45.3 x 0.4 inch

CHF 923

Fine Art Drawings, Pastel Cityscape I, 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

Print, Summer House, Carrie Graber

Carrie Graber

Print . 96.5 x 63.5 x 3.8 cm Print . 38 x 25 x 1.5 inch

CHF 1,014

Painting, Marble Arch, Marco Araldi

Marco Araldi

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

CHF 684

Painting, Urban Notre-Dame, Lasveguix

Lasveguix

Painting . 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting . 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,166

Painting, City Lights, Tima K

Tima K

Painting . 121.92 x 91.44 x 3 cm Painting . 48 x 36 x 1.2 inch

CHF 4,955