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, Untitled, KetoMa

KetoMa

Photography . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

CHF 98

Photography, Night Pool, Heike Bohnstengel

Heike Bohnstengel

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

CHF 341

Print, Theartres, Hiroshi Sugimoto

Hiroshi Sugimoto

Print . 70.2 x 88.5 x 1 cm Print . 27.6 x 34.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,946

Painting, Taifa, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 51 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 20.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,192

Painting, Opening, Olga Onopko

Olga Onopko

Painting . 80 x 100 x 0.1 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 0 inch

CHF 1,508

Painting, Houses, Dondi Schwartz

Dondi Schwartz

Painting . 60 x 80 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,284

Fine Art Drawings, Moulin bleu, Dominique Briand

Dominique Briand

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

CHF 224

Painting, Silence, Viktor Gutsul

Viktor Gutsul

Painting . 100 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 612

Painting, Old Bam, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Painting . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 448

Painting, Jerusalem, Sarah Weitzman

Sarah Weitzman

Painting . 90 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 35.4 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 3,565

Painting, Forgotten View, Schagen Vita

Schagen Vita

Painting . 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 632

Painting, Green door, Schagen Vita

Schagen Vita

Painting . 20 x 15 x 0.2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

CHF 146

Painting, Parisian roofs, Schagen Vita

Schagen Vita

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 730

Painting, Place of Peace, Schagen Vita

Schagen Vita

Painting . 70 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

CHF 1,070

Painting, London bridge, Schagen Vita

Schagen Vita

Painting . 100 x 100 x 1.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.6 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, One Way, Jef Aérosol

Jef Aérosol

Painting . 81 x 65 cm Painting . 31.9 x 25.6 inch

CHF 4,768

Photography, Invitation, Hervé Pezzini

Hervé Pezzini

Photography . 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 291

Photography, Pool in Kakheti, Sarah Brik

Sarah Brik

Photography . 15 x 22.5 x 0.01 cm Photography . 5.9 x 8.9 x 0 inch

CHF 97

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Robert Delval

Robert Delval

Fine Art Drawings . 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 16 x 1 inch

CHF 111

Photography, Eckmühl - M, Fabrice Gallou

Fabrice Gallou

Photography . 40 x 60 x 2.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 389

Painting, Afternoon Pool, Leo Bengtson

Leo Bengtson

Painting . 89 x 116 x 2 cm Painting . 35 x 45.7 x 0.8 inch

Price upon request

Photography, Glaz IX, Anthony Caer

Anthony Caer

Photography . 100 x 100 cm Photography . 39.4 x 39.4 inch

Price upon request

Painting, 119, Jérôme Mesnager

119

Jérôme Mesnager

Painting . 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting . 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,114

Print, Empire, SupaKitch

SupaKitch

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

CHF 292

Painting, 119, Jérôme Mesnager

119

Jérôme Mesnager

Painting . 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting . 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,114