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

N° 834 Rojus. La maison condamnée

N° 493 De l'esplanade de la Maison de Boigne.

Frosty Day

Street edge

Manhattan reflets de nuit

Añadidura 102

Paris Tour Eiffel

Paris tour tour Eiffel 1

Plénitude II

Claustre de Tarragona

Le lac majeur

Verdana - collection spéciale Grands Formats

Solaria - collection spéciale Grands Formats

Pyra - collection spéciale Grands Formats

California house - collection spéciale Grands Formats

Untitled

Terrasse italienne

Sugar Bowk

Cobalt Room

Pink Room

Fountain

Courtyard in Greece

Flower bush

Roman photo n°21

City Innsbruck, Austria

Croatian Village

Ponte Lungo

Holy Trinity

Sightseeing No.8

Le Hameau

Caravane abandonnée sur l'île de Skye

La Rochelle

The sky begins behind the house

Osmose Bande De 1 N2

La solitude

Door to infinity #5

Andres Alsina in Paris

Malibu 2

Porte

Babylone 2

Cafe in France

Burn-out au paradis.

Le petit village

National Theatre & Reflection

N° 1183 Ile d'Aix. Façade Nord de l'église abbatiale.

Silence and Calmness

N° 1166 Rochefort. Allée Paul Guimard.

N° 1080 Budapest 2. Széchenyi Lànchid A.

Genets sauvages

Hommage à Lao Tseu H.16 cm Brossée

Soleil entrant

Perspective

Souvenirs de Sofia

Chemin de vie I frêne

Moonlit Silence

Venice

Santorini

Les Chevaliers du Temple

Struttura figurale

Venise

Canal de Burano

After Hours

MP096

The Franks' balcony

Voyage voyage

Energie