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

Poolside Pairs

Level 7

Dolores Guinness

Pool At El Cuarton

Eleuthera Pool Party

Pool In St Tropez

Cat-Shaped Pool

Acapulco Pool

Chateau St. Jean, 1973 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

Von Oswald House, 1986 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

Guests At Villa Nirvana, 1978 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

Poolside In Arizona - 1973 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

NY Apartments - 1953 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

Kaufmann Desert House - 1970 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

Poolside Backgammon, 1972 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

Scone Madam - 1960 Slim Aarons Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print

Marble House

Wall and Trowel

Tel Aviv Lights

North Atlantic

Beyond the Rocks

Afternoon Light

Moved Out

Brant Point

La librairie en bois brun

A Little Serenade Of Prague

Wintery

Church in the City

Dernier port d'attache-3608 - Série bateaux échoués

View of the Church

On the Boulevard

View of the Lavra

La borie

Building in TaiKoo Hong Kong

Unknown World No.7

Dilema

N° 1120 Fin de partie.

Impossible Walls

N° 1112 Belgrade ç. Musée Zepter D. Flagrant délit 3.

Morning

N° 1069 Congratulations 4

Nicely Coiffed

N° 994 Ce sont amis que vent emporte

Statue de la liberté

Sugarbush Slopes

Swimming In Spain

23 Flats

Fairy

Fragments de mémoire 2

Dimitris Kritsas

Party on the Steps

Poolside Gathering

Nelda's Pool

Poolside Interruption

Palm Springs Pool

Série N.Y. #1

Tous les Chemins y mènent

Ombrage au Lac

Valangin Portail

Bath time, Vacation on the Happy Island serie

On the way to the light

Vue sur les toits. Vue 16

Vue sur les toits. Vue 15

Petra, le trésor immergé

Abandoned room

Ciudad