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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Sculpture, Transplantation 4, VAM

VAM

Sculpture . 35 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

CHF 1,168

Painting, Jungle Slumber, Mariah Birsak

Mariah Birsak

Painting . 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,460

Painting, Penumbra, David Walker

David Walker

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

CHF 2,008

Print, Chair, Luis Fernández

Luis Fernández

Print . 92 x 70 cm Print . 36.2 x 27.6 inch

CHF 389

Fine Art Drawings, Street, 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

CHF 438

Painting, Venice, Andrzej Konwerski

Andrzej Konwerski

Painting . 60 x 80 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 inch

CHF 2,919

Painting, Domestic, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting . 45 x 55 x 0.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 21.7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 973

Print, Le Parfum du Sud, Hugo Pondz

Hugo Pondz

Print . 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Print . 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch

CHF 1,606

Print, Untitled I, Jeremie Faivre

Jeremie Faivre

Print . 38 x 50 x 2 cm Print . 15 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 973

Painting, Shed n2, Yevgeniya Kramska

Yevgeniya Kramska

Painting . 80 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 802

Painting, Untitled, Lluís Barba

Lluís Barba

Painting . 55.5 x 75 x 0.2 cm Painting . 21.9 x 29.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,265

Painting, Paysage animé, Sartorelli

Sartorelli

Painting . 54 x 65 x 2 cm Painting . 21.3 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,318

Painting, Rome, Antonio Reyna Manescau

Antonio Reyna Manescau

Painting . 20.5 x 15 x 0.5 cm Painting . 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,532

Print, Lille, Michele Morando

Michele Morando

Print . 54 x 41 x 0.1 cm Print . 21.3 x 16.1 x 0 inch

CHF 379

Painting, Stuck, Koorosh Nejad

Koorosh Nejad

Painting . 140 x 105.9 x 4.1 cm Painting . 55.1 x 41.7 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,575

Painting, Bound for Spring, Liu Ziyu

Liu Ziyu

Painting . 68 x 71 x 0.1 cm Painting . 26.8 x 28 x 0 inch

CHF 1,849

Painting, L'attente, Daniel Sciora

Daniel Sciora

Painting . 73 x 70.5 x 3 cm Painting . 28.7 x 27.8 x 1.2 inch

CHF 681

Photography, Barbican, Francoblanco

Francoblanco

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

CHF 389 CHF 311

Print, Jourdain, Vermibus

Vermibus

Print . 70 x 100 x 0.3 cm Print . 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch

CHF 195

Painting, Zénith, Appaloosa

Appaloosa

Painting . 46 x 55 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 837

Painting, House (3), Jarik Jongman

Jarik Jongman

Painting . 59.9 x 80 x 4.1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

CHF 4,500

Sculpture, Penta Goda, Jean Brillant

Jean Brillant

Sculpture . 300 x 113 x 120 cm Sculpture . 118.1 x 44.5 x 47.2 inch

CHF 27,246

Painting, New Orleans, Yann Letestu

Yann Letestu

Painting . 73 x 54 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,946

Painting, After, Ola Suprun

Ola Suprun

Painting . 110 x 130 x 0.1 cm Painting . 43.3 x 51.2 x 0 inch

CHF 2,433

Painting, Locarno, Jules Gaillepand

Jules Gaillepand

Painting . 33.5 x 44 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.2 x 17.3 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,178

Photography, Colour Pop, Cindi Emond

Cindi Emond

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 1,168