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!

Read more
Sculpture, Ensemble, Delphine Brabant

Delphine Brabant

Sculpture . 41 x 32 x 20 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 12.6 x 7.9 inch

CHF 3,503

Print, Cuscini, Tino Stefanoni

Tino Stefanoni

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

CHF 292

Photography, Neelam, Edmund Sumner

Edmund Sumner

Photography . 48 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography . 18.9 x 23.6 x 0 inch

CHF 1,064

Photography, Eden-Roc Pool, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 5,328

Photography, Oz Tennis Stars, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

CHF 4,622

Photography, Nice Pool, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

CHF 5,328

Photography, Chimney, Fabien Strauss

Fabien Strauss

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

CHF 369

Painting, 1ère neige, Navema

Navema

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

CHF 632

Photography, Snow Day, Katarina J

Katarina J

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

CHF 354

Fine Art Drawings, Botticelli street #3, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

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

CHF 107

Painting, Worn Entrance, Kamo Atoyan

Kamo Atoyan

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 268

Photography, Barreira, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 119.9 x 79.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 47.2 x 31.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 3,565

Painting, Enigma, Osse Müller

Osse Müller

Painting . 110 x 84 x 0.3 cm Painting . 43.3 x 33.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 10,704

Photography, City Range #57, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 311

Fine Art Drawings, Urbanity, Osse Müller

Osse Müller

Fine Art Drawings . 51 x 67 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 20.1 x 26.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,752

Painting, Be happy, Andrii Chebotaru

Andrii Chebotaru

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

CHF 1,849

Painting, Sleepy Village, Lana Devidze

Lana Devidze

Painting . 23.5 x 30 x 1.6 cm Painting . 9.3 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

CHF 681

Fine Art Drawings, Chicago, Josep Maria Mejan

Josep Maria Mejan

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 16.4 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 6.5 x 0 inch

CHF 632

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Luis Fernández

Luis Fernández

Fine Art Drawings . 69 x 99 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 27.2 x 39 x 0 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, Colosseum #7, John Ferry

John Ferry

Painting . 33.02 x 210.82 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13 x 83 x 0 inch

CHF 1,713

Painting, Roof View, Melinda Patrick

Melinda Patrick

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 1.5 inch

CHF 330

Painting, Lady Liberty, David Sipko

David Sipko

Painting . 20.3 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm Painting . 8 x 6 x 0.5 inch

CHF 290

Painting, Venice, Italy, Leon Devenice

Leon Devenice

Painting . 94 x 127 x 2.5 cm Painting . 37 x 50 x 1 inch

CHF 3,182

Photography, Poolside Pairs, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

CHF 5,002

Painting, Red Apple, Le Hai Linh

Le Hai Linh

Painting . 56 x 81 x 1 cm Painting . 22 x 31.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,773

Painting, Smog, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 1.9 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.75 inch

CHF 268

Print, Rentrons, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 60 x 160 x 5 cm Print . 23.6 x 63 x 2 inch

CHF 417