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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Architecture

Scarpette rosse due

Buddha of Richmond Castle

Doors of Perception

The moon is generous

Chapelle dans le couserans (Ariège)

Casa Vincens

Phare du Four - Série paysage marin

Struttura II

Castle Ruins

City of words

L'orage

Pixel landscape No.1

A light breeze in the yard

Old Dutch opus II, Photograph, C-Type

Les oliviers bleus

Verteuil sur Charente Tanning Mill impressionism

Petit matin d'été

Bord de rivière

Signore e signori... 1988

Light in the street

Blue

Chocolate Factory & Crazy Sunset

Maxime Blachere – Notre Dame du Graffiti

Une soirée dans les dunes

Exposition universelle

Cubisme 2.0

Il Duomo Milano

The Green Wall

Paseo de Gracia

New York Le rêve N°19/60

Hanoi Style

Barche

Fantasy castle on the air

Confrontation

Untitle

Village 28

The Red Gate

Fontainebleau, Miami

Sans titre

African Tales (En route to Accra)

Untitled

Tour Pleyel

yellow pylon worker

Le quai de Bercy

La bistro

Eironciño dos cabaleiros

Auvers sur Oise N°26 - Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption

The city

Sunset at the Park

Untitled

Le Pont Neuf - le soir 3

Poignée de Porte - Le Havre

Elévation

Paris 13 ème "Olympiades Vibes N°2" (XL)

Cataclysme

West Chop Lighthouse

Festivitée en vieille ville à Genève

The Ancient Theater

Automne à Paris Série La Ville

Maisons Tessinoise

Cartografia aquàtica nº4

Structure métal II

Bruxelles & le musée de la musique

Cui-Cui

Venice

Edifice