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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Fine Art Drawings, Octobre rose, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

CHF 121

Photography, Street 3, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

CHF 952

Photography, 28 Flats, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

Photography . 110 x 120 x 2 cm Photography . 43.3 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,008

Photography, Pink Moon, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

Photography . 100 x 120 x 2 cm Photography . 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,889

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

Photography, Fairy, Cécile Baldewyns

Cécile Baldewyns

Photography . 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

CHF 680

Photography, L'ombre est là (M), Streety

Streety

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

CHF 340

Photography, Dorée, Paul Marnef

Paul Marnef

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

CHF 1,448

Photography, Paris, la Tour, Paul Marnef

Paul Marnef

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

CHF 1,448

Photography, Rijnkaii VII, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

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

CHF 520

Photography, The Carousel, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 666

Painting, Tram stop, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

Painting . 60 x 49 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 345

Painting, Temple Clarisses, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

CHF 310

Painting, Jump, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

CHF 261

Painting, City Church, Valery Savenets

Valery Savenets

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

CHF 330

Photography, Carrelet 2, Nicolas Issaly

Nicolas Issaly

Photography . 60 x 90 x 3 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,127

Photography, Ravello Stairs, Andreea B

Andreea B

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

CHF 401

Painting, Silver Day, Pavlenko Leonid

Pavlenko Leonid

Painting . 46 x 53 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 20.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 583

Painting, Sunset, Oleksandr Khrapachov

Oleksandr Khrapachov

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

CHF 2,047

Painting, Old yard, Mishurovsky Victor

Mishurovsky Victor

Painting . 33 x 48 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 287

Painting, Sleep, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 70 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,943

Painting, Paradise, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 120 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,943

Painting, Cancale, Jacques Guillet

Jacques Guillet

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

CHF 437

Painting, Opera Garnier, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

Painting . 81 x 116 x 2.5 cm Painting . 31.9 x 45.7 x 1 inch

CHF 1,749

Painting, Palace in bloom, Mani Mustafa

Mani Mustafa

Painting . 60 x 60 x 0.1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 0 inch

CHF 1,749

Photography, The Wikilight, Idan Wizen

Idan Wizen

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

CHF 437

Photography, The Souk of Marrakech, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 26.7 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.5 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 967

Photography, House 15, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

CHF 952