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, Londres II, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 486

Photography, Londres I, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 583

Fine Art Drawings, Ciudad, Reyner

Reyner

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

CHF 680

Fine Art Drawings, Hospital, Ray Smith

Ray Smith

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

CHF 923

Print, Guinguette, Sophie Griotto

Sophie Griotto

Print . 100 x 85 x 3 cm Print . 39.4 x 33.5 x 1.2 inch

CHF 572

Print, Girl in NYC, Sophie Griotto

Sophie Griotto

Print . 100 x 85 x 3 cm Print . 39.4 x 33.5 x 1.2 inch

CHF 572

Print, An ocean, Rafal Olbinski

Rafal Olbinski

Print . 24 x 18 cm Print . 9.4 x 7.1 inch

CHF 437

Painting, Castelo 2, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

Painting . 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 263

Painting, Balcony, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

CHF 735

Painting, Bratislava II, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting . 18 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 7.1 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 243

Photography, Berlin V, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 583

Photography, Berlin IIII, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 583

Photography, Ciel 6, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

CHF 583

Painting, Waiting, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

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

CHF 290

Photography, Blue Pearl, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

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

CHF 679

Fine Art Drawings, La chapelle, Georges Laporte

Georges Laporte

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 26 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 10.2 inch

CHF 194

Fine Art Drawings, Charm, Tomo Sakurai

Tomo Sakurai

Fine Art Drawings . 109 x 158 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 42.9 x 62.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 8,744

Photography, De l'ombre, LN Le Cheviller

LN Le Cheviller

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

CHF 126

Painting, Air de Paris, Carlo Maiolini

Carlo Maiolini

Painting . 60 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 583

Photography, The Waking Sky, 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, Port of Rotterdam, 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, Merano - London, 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 Blue Room II, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

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

CHF 384

Photography, Baroque, Berlin, 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 Blue 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

Photography, Queen Victoria, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

Photography . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 389

Photography, Private, Balat, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

CHF 219

Fine Art Drawings, Plan - B, Zo

Zo

Fine Art Drawings . 80 x 60 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 768

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 11, Denis Poughon

Denis Poughon

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 13 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inch

CHF 340

Painting, Enuma Elish 3, Alex Colard

Alex Colard

Painting . 200 x 200 x 2 cm Painting . 78.7 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 8,756