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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Print, Untitled, Luis Fernández

Luis Fernández

Print . 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

CHF 216

Fine Art Drawings, First and First, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Fine Art Drawings . 45.7 x 61 x 1.9 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18 x 24 x 0.75 inch

CHF 446

Painting, Metropolis, Florence Boré

Florence Boré

Painting . 105 x 75 x 0.5 cm Painting . 41.3 x 29.5 x 0.2 inch

CHF 4,379

Painting, Intro, Mirtha Otaño

Mirtha Otaño

Painting . 69 x 98 x 4 cm Painting . 27.2 x 38.6 x 1.6 inch

CHF 5,692

Painting, Gateway 2, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

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

CHF 768

Photography, Cavalerie, Vanessa Vercel

Vanessa Vercel

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

CHF 1,265

Painting, Untitle, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 50 x 70 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

CHF 195

Painting, Two Days Later, Radu Rodideal

Radu Rodideal

Painting . 120 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,406

Painting, Two Paths, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting . 152.4 x 203.2 x 3.8 cm Painting . 60 x 80 x 1.5 inch

CHF 19,608

Photography, Walk on Rivoli (M), Streety

Streety

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 341

Painting, Rupit, Lluís Bargalló

Lluís Bargalló

Painting . 97 x 130 x 3 cm Painting . 38.2 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 6,033

Photography, Piccadilly Circus, Katarina J

Katarina J

Photography . 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

CHF 354

Photography, Cyclope, Sébastien Wasseler

Sébastien Wasseler

Photography . 50 x 75 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch

CHF 681

Painting, Forma luzy color, M. Muro

M. Muro

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

CHF 2,919

Painting, On Grant, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 35.5 x 45.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 0.2 inch

CHF 997

Painting, August, 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, Ackerstrasse, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

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

CHF 1,362

Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Jean Revol

Jean Revol

Fine Art Drawings . 60.5 x 48 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 23.8 x 18.9 x 0 inch

CHF 389

Photography, Nelda's Pool, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101 x 152 cm Photography . 39.8 x 59.8 inch

CHF 4,476

Painting, Native home, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

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

CHF 316

Painting, Fourvière, Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 27.9 x 20.3 x 1.3 cm Painting . 11 x 8 x 0.5 inch

CHF 695

Photography, Surreal, Rocio Villanueva

Rocio Villanueva

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Photography . 20 x 20 inch

CHF 1,168

Painting, City B, Fred Boutet

Fred Boutet

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

CHF 1,168

Photography, Planète Mars, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.6 x 26.7 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 10.5 x 0 inch

CHF 1,556

Photography, Love in the tropics, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.6 x 23.8 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 9.4 x 0 inch

CHF 1,556