Art and architecture

Since the beginning of the 20th century, artists and architects have often been in collaboration. This relationship was not necessarily without conflict – on the contrary, a productive tension and friction can often be found at the basis of their common endeavors. However, wherever art and architecture establish a common territory in the public arena, highly integrated schemes may result that are of particular appeal and quality. In recent years, the barriers between art and architecture have come down even further; while many artists are attracted to the spatial presence of architecture and its language and scale, contemporary architects also seek the inspiration of art and include artistic concepts into their designs. Great works of art/architecture have resulted from these cooperations and this book explores them in nine chapters from 1914 up to the present, highlighting the most striking examples of these interdisciplinary activities such as the LACMA scheme by Renzo Piano/Jeff Koons in Los Angeles, the Chichu Art Museum by Tadao Ando with its installation by Walter de Maria, the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale by David Adjaye with artist Chris Ofili or the work by Keith Sonnier in the Munich Re Building byBaumschlager Eberle.