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!

Read more
Photography, 1003 Windows, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 60 x 53 x 0.3 cm Photography . 23.6 x 20.9 x 0.1 inch

£852

Photography, Mirages #10, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

£986

Photography, NY Downtown XIV, Sven Pfrommer

Sven Pfrommer

Photography . 120 x 90 x 3 cm Photography . 47.2 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

£1,674

Photography, Pink column party, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Photography . 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

£753

Photography, Reine, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£771

Photography, Haven, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£996

Photography, Hemisferic, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 70 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£1,016

Photography, Ascension, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£1,333

Photography, Ypsilon, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£886

Photography, Phoenix, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£1,281

Photography, Hyperbola, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£1,267

Photography, New York Jam VI, Sven Pfrommer

Sven Pfrommer

Photography . 120 x 90 x 3 cm Photography . 47.2 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

£1,585

Photography, New York Jam IV, Sven Pfrommer

Sven Pfrommer

Photography . 120 x 90 x 3 cm Photography . 47.2 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

£1,585

Photography, New Jam III, Sven Pfrommer

Sven Pfrommer

Photography . 70 x 140 x 3 cm Photography . 27.6 x 55.1 x 1.2 inch

£1,674

Photography, Añadidura 16, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 52 x 41 x 0.3 cm Photography . 20.5 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

£795

Photography, Añadidura 102, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 62 x 42 x 0.3 cm Photography . 24.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

£819

Photography, 1001 Windows, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 70 x 46.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 27.6 x 18.3 x 0.1 inch

£933

Photography, Mirages #7, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

£986

Photography, Mirages #5, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

£986

Photography, Mirages #3, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

£986

Photography, Mirages #4, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

£986

Photography, Mirages #11, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

£986

Photography, Mirages #8, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

£986

Photography, Añadidura 8, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 66 x 31 x 0.3 cm Photography . 26 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch

£763

Photography, Añadidura 3, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 62 x 36 x 0.3 cm Photography . 24.4 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

£778

Photography, Zeitz, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

£1,478

Photography, Ellipse, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

£1,399

Photography, Totem, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£1,521

Photography, Arcade, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

£1,390

Photography, Pastel Cult, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Photography . 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

£753

Photography, In Awe, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Photography . 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

£753

Photography, C. Z. Guest, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 76 x 51 cm Photography . 29.9 x 20.1 inch

£2,967

Photography, Mirages #12, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 123.5 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography . 48.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

£1,423

Photography, Mirages #9, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 123.5 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography . 48.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

£1,423

Photography, Mirages #6, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 123.5 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography . 48.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

£1,423

Photography, 1007 Windows, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 48 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography . 18.9 x 27.6 x 0 inch

£933

Photography, Fire Sky, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

Photography . 60 x 80 x 0.5 cm Photography . 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.2 inch

£753

Photography, Groom, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£142

Photography, Cocktail Hour, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 76 x 101 cm Photography . 29.9 x 39.8 inch

£3,188

Photography, Poolside Style, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 51 x 76 cm Photography . 20.1 x 29.9 inch

£2,967

Photography, Poolside Chat, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 41 x 51 cm Photography . 16.1 x 20.1 inch

£2,258

Photography, C. Z. Guest, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101 x 76 cm Photography . 39.8 x 29.9 inch

£3,188