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, Packard Plant, Jonathan Dy

Jonathan Dy

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

£222

Photography, NL #71, Charles Weber

Charles Weber

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

£2,308

Fine Art Drawings, Serie isla, Reyner

Reyner

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

£621

Painting, Flors, Avtandil Modebadze

Avtandil Modebadze

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

£577

Photography, Château d'If #2, Samzaï

Samzaï

Photography . 50 x 75 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 29.5 x 0.4 inch

£346

Photography, NYC Taxi (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 76.2 x 95.3 cm Photography . 30 x 37.5 inch

£6,505

Photography, Iloveyou (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 76.2 x 95.3 cm Photography . 30 x 37.5 inch

£6,505

Photography, Gold City (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography . 30 x 40 inch

£6,505

Photography, VIP Only (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 76.2 x 114.3 cm Photography . 30 x 45 inch

£6,505

Photography, Peeping (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 76.2 x 95.3 cm Photography . 30 x 37.5 inch

£6,505

Photography, Hot (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 101.6 x 78.7 cm Photography . 40 x 31 inch

£6,505

Photography, Going Up (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 101.6 x 81.3 cm Photography . 40 x 32 inch

£6,505

Photography, Charlize (M), David Drebin

David Drebin

Photography . 76.2 x 95.3 cm Photography . 30 x 37.5 inch

£6,505

Painting, Moonlight II, Lily Phung

Lily Phung

Painting . 150 x 190 x 4 cm Painting . 59.1 x 74.8 x 1.6 inch

£10,652

Painting, PALAIS GALLIERA, Veroe

Veroe

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

£160

Painting, Skyscrapers, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting . 116.8 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 46 x 36 x 0.1 inch

£6,505

Painting, Manarola, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting . 101.6 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 inch

£7,317

Painting, Tramontane, Carole Leprince

Carole Leprince

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

£266

Photography, NL #70, Charles Weber

Charles Weber

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

£2,308

Photography, Pilgrim, Javier Molina

Javier Molina

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

£409

Photography, Fushimi inari, Mirei

Mirei

Photography . 20 x 27 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.6 inch

£311

Painting, Fun City, Kuteroff

Kuteroff

Painting . 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

£3,639

Fine Art Drawings, Come In, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

£311

Photography, Bouclier, Sophie Serra

Sophie Serra

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

£1,420

Fine Art Drawings, Orden y caos, Reyner

Reyner

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

£621

Painting, Shadows 2, Claudio Filippini

Claudio Filippini

Painting . 120 x 80 x 3 cm Painting . 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

£2,841

Sculpture, Roof, Andrius Erminas

Andrius Erminas

Sculpture . 155 x 28 x 21 cm Sculpture . 61 x 11 x 8.3 inch

£1,420

Print, Pyra, Christophe Malsert

Christophe Malsert

Print . 90 x 90 x 3 cm Print . 35.4 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

£381