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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Photography, NL #15, Charles Weber

Charles Weber

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

CHF 2,530

Print, N.Y., Luis Fernández

Luis Fernández

Print . 90 x 70 cm Print . 35.4 x 27.6 inch

CHF 389

Painting, Haut perché, Plok

Plok

Painting . 80 x 80 x 5 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 2 inch

CHF 3,114

Photography, #2, Julien Espiaut

#2

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

CHF 185

Painting, Les boulevards, Phil

Phil

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

CHF 681

Painting, Mouvement, Claude Carretta

Claude Carretta

Painting . 27 x 37 x 1 cm Painting . 10.6 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 292

Painting, Toronto, Claude Carretta

Claude Carretta

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

CHF 341

Painting, Exit, Menkiv Anatoliy

Menkiv Anatoliy

Painting . 130 x 190 x 2 cm Painting . 51.2 x 74.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, Le Val, Nadine de Lespinats

Nadine de Lespinats

Painting . 70 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 584

Fine Art Drawings, Girasoles, Reyner

Reyner

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 19 x 0.03 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 7.5 x 0 inch

CHF 681

Painting, Floral, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting . 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,752

Photography, Joy, Juan Pablo Castro

Joy

Juan Pablo Castro

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

CHF 2,674

Painting, Le Jaguar, Vincent Pompetti

Vincent Pompetti

Painting . 41 x 27 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 487

Photography, 2191, Jean-Paul Baret

Jean-Paul Baret

Photography . 45 x 70 cm Photography . 17.7 x 27.6 inch

CHF 331

Photography, #1, Julien Espiaut

#1

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

CHF 185

Sculpture, Eiffel Tagger, Papa Mesk

Papa Mesk

Sculpture . 17 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 6.7 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

CHF 243

Fine Art Drawings, Beau Rivage, Martine Camillieri

Martine Camillieri

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 18 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 7.1 x 0 inch

CHF 467

Photography, The Secret Door, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 50 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 384

Photography, The Soldiers 1792, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 48 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 18.9 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 384

Photography, The Yellow Room, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 48 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 18.9 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 384

Fine Art Drawings, Le soupir, Zo

Zo

Fine Art Drawings . 80 x 60 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 769

Painting, Church, Valery Savenets

Valery Savenets

Painting . 50 x 70 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 404

Photography, Gdansk 01, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

CHF 778

Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Jean Revol

Jean Revol

Fine Art Drawings . 48 x 60.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.9 x 23.8 x 0 inch

CHF 389