Differentiation of Architecture and Art

Architecture and art have been categorized as two different subjects in modern days. The two are born from the human needs of aesthetics and beauty, diverging on the verge of function and practicality. While architects divine architecture as art because of the pursuit of aesthetics and design, artists do not see buildings as art because of the functional nature of architecture.

The relationship between architecture and art has been changing over the history. At Renaissance period, both subjects fell under the same category – arts. During the Industrial Revolution, technology flourished and suddenly architecture turned its focus on technological challenges rather than aesthetics challenges. In reaction to this movement, architecture once again stepped back and reinvents its direction – the nature of architecture. This is the birth of modern architecture and departure from art ever since. However, with the realization of aesthetic needs, architecture struggles to earn back its relevance in art nowadays. Iconic architecture then becomes the trend.

The fuzzy link between architecture and art can be described as a love-hate relationship, as seen in history. To explore the relationship between the two, one must know the definition of architecture and art, how the two share a symbiotic nature, and how important they are to each other.