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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Print, Athènes, Yves Brayer

Yves Brayer

Print . 28.5 x 32 cm Print . 11.2 x 12.6 inch

£133

Photography, Hotel Europe, Jonathan Dy

Jonathan Dy

Photography . 20 x 26.57 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.5 inch

£221

Painting, Red Dancer, Eric Tournaire

Eric Tournaire

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.2 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

£425

Photography, Acoustics, Juan Pablo Castro

Juan Pablo Castro

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

£2,434

Photography, NL #121, Charles Weber

Charles Weber

Photography . 70 x 70 cm Photography . 27.6 x 27.6 inch

£2,303

Photography, Golf, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

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

£2,434

Photography, Levels, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 105.9 x 79.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 41.7 x 31.4 x 0.1 inch

£2,758

Photography, Casa de Areia, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

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

£3,245

Photography, Ipase Gang, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

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

£3,245

Fine Art Drawings, Roman Warmth, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

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

£203

Photography, Concrete Jungle, Andrew Soria

Andrew Soria

Photography . 101.6 x 127 x 2.5 cm Photography . 40 x 50 x 1 inch

£3,569

Painting, White noise, Konovalov Igor

Konovalov Igor

Painting . 100 x 180 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 70.9 x 0.8 inch

£2,613

Photography, Sentinel, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

£507

Print, Orti in casa, Ugo Nespolo

Ugo Nespolo

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

£332

Photography, Windows Vert, Mathieu Walter

Mathieu Walter

Photography . 160 x 120 x 2.5 cm Photography . 63 x 47.2 x 1 inch

£6,642

Painting, Arlequin, Eric Khellas

Eric Khellas

Painting . 73 x 92 x 5 cm Painting . 28.7 x 36.2 x 2 inch

£1,072

Painting, Basel II, Albert Alís

Albert Alís

Painting . 24 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.4 inch

£332

Photography, #6, Julien Espiaut

#6

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£310