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, Morning bell, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

Painting . 49 x 59 x 2 cm Painting . 19.3 x 23.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 224

Painting, Fortress, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

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

CHF 234

Photography, A quiet corner, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

Photography . 120 x 96 x 2 cm Photography . 47.2 x 37.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,013

Print, Euclid Avenue, Artis Reigo

Artis Reigo

Print . 22.9 x 15.2 x 5.1 cm Print . 9 x 6 x 2 inch

CHF 223

Painting, Lisboa, Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 30 x 20.8 x 1.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.2 x 0.5 inch

CHF 686

Print, Vraiment, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 80 x 140 x 4.5 cm Print . 31.5 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

CHF 437

Painting, Ségur, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

CHF 122

Photography, Mur 005, Sophie Bassouls

Sophie Bassouls

Photography . 33 x 48 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 730

Painting, White Diner, Alain Bertrand

Alain Bertrand

Painting . 54 x 73 x 2 cm Painting . 21.3 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,698

Photography, Ciel 5, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 584

Painting, Untitled, Winifred Wilson

Winifred Wilson

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 1 inch

CHF 223

Print, Yellow, Chiara Santoro

Chiara Santoro

Print . 60 x 50 x 1.8 cm Print . 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.7 inch

CHF 487

Painting, Hoa Phong Tower, Loi Duc

Loi Duc

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

CHF 6,597

Painting, Future, Andrea Vandoni

Andrea Vandoni

Painting . 80 x 60 x 4 cm Painting . 31.5 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

CHF 2,043

Painting, Lost World No.2, Jia Yuan Hua

Jia Yuan Hua

Painting . 80 x 100 x 4 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

CHF 5,741

Painting, Paysage village 3, Xi Lan

Xi Lan

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 487

Photography, Rijnkaai II, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

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

CHF 890

Photography, Fort Saint-Jean #2, Samzaï

Samzaï

Photography . 50 x 73 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 28.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 379

Print, Turtle, Natalia Kolpakova

Natalia Kolpakova

Print . 100 x 100 x 0.5 cm Print . 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.2 inch

CHF 570

Painting, Vladimir, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 6,325

Fine Art Drawings, Venice, Margarita Zipman

Margarita Zipman

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 713

Sculpture, Steamship 982, James Chedburn

James Chedburn

Sculpture . 66 x 72 x 23 cm Sculpture . 26 x 28.3 x 9.1 inch

CHF 7,298

Photography, Fuerte N°12, Emilie Mori

Emilie Mori

Photography . 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography . 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch

CHF 1,070

Painting, A few houses, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 535

Fine Art Drawings, Wintered, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 2,472

Painting, They work, Andrea Vandoni

Andrea Vandoni

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

CHF 2,822

Fine Art Drawings, Hydra, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Fine Art Drawings . 101.6 x 76.2 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.05 inch

CHF 7,298

Painting, Riviera, Cathie Berthon

Cathie Berthon

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

CHF 1,752

Fine Art Drawings, Open Window, Roberto Cuccaro

Roberto Cuccaro

Fine Art Drawings . 50.5 x 36.1 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

CHF 1,362

Photography, Bermudan Hostess, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 x 2.5 cm Photography . 40 x 40 x 1 inch

CHF 3,591

Photography, Clifftop Pool, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography . 40 x 60 inch

CHF 3,591

Photography, White Pagoda, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography . 40 x 60 inch

CHF 3,591