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, Keyhole, Alain Boccard

Alain Boccard

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

€690

Photography, Luminescence, Martin Kallay

Martin Kallay

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Photography, Roi, Mario Tarantino

Roi

Mario Tarantino

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

€1,060

Photography, Calle del Ridotto, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

€895

Photography, Freedom, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 26.7 x 35.6 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.5 x 14 x 0 inch

€1,999 €1,700

Photography, DLR, London UK, Francoblanco

Francoblanco

Photography . 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€195

Photography, Intruder II, Clint McDowell

Clint McDowell

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

€1,000

Photography, Zoo Palast, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 100 x 140 x 0.3 cm Photography . 39.4 x 55.1 x 0.1 inch

€1,220

Photography, Ocean view, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€200 €170

Photography, Lisbon #21 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 55.9 x 109.2 cm Photography . 22 x 43 inch

€9,255

Photography, Eternal Blues, Kiritin Beyer

Kiritin Beyer

Photography . 102 x 102 x 0.1 cm Photography . 40.2 x 40.2 x 0 inch

€1,380

Photography, Pyramides, Nicolas Issaly

Nicolas Issaly

Photography . 60 x 90 x 2 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

€960

Photography, Awakening, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

€1,144

Photography, Grande rue, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€820

Photography, Brooklyn Bridge, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.6 x 23.7 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 9.3 x 0 inch

€1,999

Photography, Volantin, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

€1,219

Photography, Ascension, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

€1,505

Photography, Bruciato, Gina Soden

Gina Soden

Photography . 44.64 x 64.96 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.6 x 25.6 x 0 inch

€1,460

Photography, Spring, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€520

Photography, Lisbon #22 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 55.9 x 109.2 cm Photography . 22 x 43 inch

€9,255

Photography, Voir, Marie VDB

Marie VDB

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€600

Photography, Old dutch 5, Geert Lemmers

Geert Lemmers

Photography . 80 x 100 x 2 cm Photography . 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,480

Photography, Brooklyn #1 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 109.2 x 71.1 cm Photography . 43 x 28 inch

€9,255

Photography, Look the ocean, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€200 €170

Photography, Altar, Wataru Furuta

Wataru Furuta

Photography . 40 x 80 x 0.2 cm Photography . 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

€2,100

Photography, Greek facade, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€200 €170

Photography, Red wall, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€200 €170

Photography, In Jail, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€200 €170

Photography, London #8 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 109.2 x 71.1 cm Photography . 43 x 28 inch

€9,255

Photography, Local weather, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€200 €170

Photography, What If I, Clint McDowell

Clint McDowell

Photography . 60 x 80.26 cm Photography . 23.6 x 31.6 inch

€1,000

Photography, New York #5 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 109.2 x 71.1 cm Photography . 43 x 28 inch

€9,255

Photography, Reflections, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€200 €170

Photography, Chimney, Fabien Strauss

Fabien Strauss

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

€379