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, Sleep, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

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

CHF 1,946

Painting, Paradise, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

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

CHF 1,946

Painting, Cancale, Jacques Guillet

Jacques Guillet

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

CHF 438

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 1,752

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 1,752

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 438

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 968

Photography, House 15, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

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

CHF 954

Painting, Eco City, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

Painting . 114 x 146 x 2.5 cm Painting . 44.9 x 57.5 x 1 inch

CHF 2,141

Photography, Golden windows, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

Photography . 67 x 200 x 2 cm Photography . 26.4 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 4,135

Photography, Thank you, Juan Pablo Castro

Juan Pablo Castro

Photography . 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography . 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch

CHF 2,674

Photography, Cityscapes I, Mark Elst

Mark Elst

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

CHF 341

Painting, Monastery, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 14 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 5.5 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 199

Painting, Church, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 22 x 12 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 4.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 199

Photography, Chanel II, London, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 68 x 84.5 x 0.2 cm Photography . 26.8 x 33.3 x 0.1 inch

CHF 676

Photography, A Young Skier, Toni Frissell

Toni Frissell

Photography . 40 x 40 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

CHF 963

Painting, Turns Green, Valery Savenets

Valery Savenets

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

CHF 345