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, The run, Evgeniya Buravleva

Evgeniya Buravleva

Painting . 35 x 45 x 1.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.6 inch

CHF 1,070

Photography, 1003 Windows, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 60 x 53 x 0.3 cm Photography . 23.6 x 20.9 x 0.1 inch

CHF 936

Photography, Mirages #10, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,083

Photography, NY Downtown XIV, Sven Pfrommer

Sven Pfrommer

Photography . 120 x 90 x 3 cm Photography . 47.2 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,839

Photography, New York Color I, Sven Pfrommer

Sven Pfrommer

Photography . 100 x 100 x 3 cm Photography . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,644

Print, Tokyo, François Avril

François Avril

Print . 64.5 x 90.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 25.4 x 35.6 x 0 inch

CHF 438

Painting, Sunny street, Helen Shukina

Helen Shukina

Painting . 35 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 356

Print, Dors bien, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 70 x 140 x 4.5 cm Print . 27.6 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

CHF 427

Photography, Pink column party, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

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

CHF 827

Print, 8 de Pique, 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, Copenhagen, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 51 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 20.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 997

Painting, One Evening, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 51 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 20.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,192

Painting, P. laberinto 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

Fine Art Drawings, Porto Pollo_17, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

CHF 448

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 12, Ilia Balavadze

Ilia Balavadze

Fine Art Drawings . 70 x 90 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 27.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

CHF 1,265

Photography, Eur Roma, Jason Pocklington

Jason Pocklington

Photography . 64 x 44 x 1 cm Photography . 25.2 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

CHF 234

Photography, Poolside Ladies, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 1,995

Painting, Smith's store, Pappay

Pappay

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

CHF 516

Painting, Série N.Y. #1, Koba

Koba

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

CHF 487

Photography, Reine, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 848

Photography, Haven, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,095

Photography, Hemisferic, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,116

Photography, Ascension, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,464

Photography, Ypsilon, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 973

Photography, Phoenix, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,407

Photography, Hyperbola, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,392

Painting, New York #2, John Ferry

John Ferry

Painting . 388.62 x 78.74 x 0.1 cm Painting . 153 x 31 x 0 inch

CHF 1,713

Painting, Alpine motif, Nadezda Stupina

Nadezda Stupina

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

CHF 1,051

Painting, Street, Ignasi Mundo

Ignasi Mundo

Painting . 45 x 33 x 0.3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13 x 0.1 inch

CHF 584

Painting, Vannes, Jacques Guillet

Jacques Guillet

Painting . 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,460

Print, Sea Side, Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander

Print . 40.6 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Print . 16 x 12 x 2 inch

CHF 713

Painting, Carousel, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,725

Painting, Croatia I, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

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

CHF 680

Painting, Gratte ciel, Toussaint

Toussaint

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

CHF 2,141

Painting, Untitled, Keti Shapatava

Keti Shapatava

Painting . 100 x 90 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 35.4 x 1 inch

CHF 3,114