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, Foyer VI, Milan, Richard Heeps

Richard Heeps

Photography . 78 x 63.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 30.7 x 25 x 0 inch

CHF 591

Painting, Hickson Road, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 45.8 x 45.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 18 x 18 x 0.2 inch

CHF 997

Painting, Port du Havre, Yves Crenn

Yves Crenn

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

CHF 8,174

Painting, Big Ben, Vianney

Vianney

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

CHF 3,114

Photography, Zeitz, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,624

Photography, Ellipse, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,537

Photography, Totem, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,671

Photography, Arcade, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

CHF 1,528

Painting, Autumn Lviv, Andrii Chebotaru

Andrii Chebotaru

Painting . 119.4 x 139.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 47 x 55 x 1 inch

CHF 5,571

Painting, Unlearn, Wang Dianyu

Wang Dianyu

Painting . 100 x 160 x 4 cm Painting . 39.4 x 63 x 1.6 inch

CHF 14,693

Painting, Fareweel, Wang Dianyu

Wang Dianyu

Painting . 140 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 55.1 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 9,779

Painting, Post Apocalypse 7, Han Qi

Han Qi

Painting . 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,362

Photography, Shot Tower, Teddy Marks

Teddy Marks

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

CHF 1,362

Painting, Ensemble, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

CHF 657

Sculpture, Arches refuge, Sylvie Groud

Sylvie Groud

Sculpture . 25 x 32 x 25 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 12.6 x 9.8 inch

CHF 890

Photography, Rijnkaai VI, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

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

CHF 2,642

Photography, Pastel Cult, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

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

CHF 827

Photography, In Awe, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

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

CHF 827

Painting, Gion reflejos, Kioto, M. Muro

M. Muro

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

CHF 2,530

Painting, Brooklyn, M. Muro

M. Muro

Painting . 60 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,530

Painting, Times Square, M. Muro

M. Muro

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

CHF 2,530

Painting, Entrave, Clotaire Lehoux

Clotaire Lehoux

Painting . 200 x 140 x 2 cm Painting . 78.7 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, Miss you, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

CHF 180

Painting, The home, Lea Karvala

Lea Karvala

Painting . 60 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

CHF 827

Painting, Cityscape, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting . 59 x 49 x 0.5 cm Painting . 23.2 x 19.3 x 0.2 inch

CHF 2,919

Painting, Landscape, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting . 36 x 29 x 0.5 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11.4 x 0.2 inch

CHF 2,919

Painting, Villa, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting . 49 x 58 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.3 x 22.8 x 0.2 inch

CHF 3,308

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 16, Denis Poughon

Denis Poughon

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 13 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inch

CHF 341