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, Church, Fabien Strauss

Fabien Strauss

Photography . 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

CHF 269

Photography, Appolon Square, Idan Wizen

Idan Wizen

Photography . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 292

Print, Pareil, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

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

CHF 427

Painting, Old farm, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

CHF 146

Painting, My village, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

CHF 146

Painting, Zauberschloss, Osse Müller

Osse Müller

Painting . 110 x 85 x 0.3 cm Painting . 43.3 x 33.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 3,162

Painting, Le plongeoir, Maylis Bourdet

Maylis Bourdet

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

CHF 1,635

Photography, Poolside Dreams, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 4,476

Photography, Poolside Host, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 4,476

Painting, Doing Homework, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

Painting . 80 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 9,244

Painting, A cold winter, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

Painting . 35.5 x 51 x 2 cm Painting . 14 x 20.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 195

Painting, April day, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

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

CHF 345

Sculpture, Nomade, Jean Brillant

Jean Brillant

Sculpture . 16 x 15 x 4 cm Sculpture . 6.3 x 5.9 x 1.6 inch

CHF 438

Photography, Complex of Life, Tae Reed

Tae Reed

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 x 1 cm Photography . 20 x 20 x 0.4 inch

CHF 632

Painting, Gogol's House, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

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

CHF 243

Painting, On the slopes, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

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

CHF 307

Painting, Old House, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

Painting . 42 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 268

Painting, Sunflowers, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

Painting . 50 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 326

Painting, Summer day, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

Painting . 42 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 360

Photography, Enuma Elish 18, Alex Colard

Alex Colard

Photography . 140 x 260 x 3 cm Photography . 55.1 x 102.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 12,296

Painting, Hours and a river,, Thong Le

Thong Le

Painting . 76.2 x 109.2 x 2.5 cm Painting . 30 x 43 x 1 inch

CHF 4,500

Painting, River in winter, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 678

Painting, Windy autumn, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 681

Painting, Pont bleu, Maylis Bourdet

Maylis Bourdet

Painting . 120 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,615

Print, Hanger, Fifo Stricker

Fifo Stricker

Print . 66 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 26 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 525

Print, Untitled, Arnau Alemany

Arnau Alemany

Print . 61 x 76 x 0.1 cm Print . 24 x 29.9 x 0 inch

CHF 584