Inspiration: Architecture and Buildings
Today’s inspiration post looks at the way buildings and architecture inspire our art. While beautiful buildings may make obvious subject matters, some artists find inspiration in the less obvious architectural details or the more mundane buildings we walk past every day. Perhaps some of the images below will inspire you to take different look at the buildings around you, from the eaves of your own home to the buildng where you work or the soaring sky scrapers in your nearest big city.
“Architecture, of all the arts, is the one which acts the most slowly, but the most surely, on the soul”
(Ernest Dimnet)
Written works inspired by Architecture and Buildings:
- Old Columns by taylorsavvy
- Under City Lights by Melissa Park
- We build towers to watch them crumble by Nataly B. Basave
- Melbourne Open House: Australian Travel Photography & Writing by Jared Revell
A selection of related groups on RedBubble:
- Architecture and cityscapes
- Contemporary Architecture
- Hand painted or drawn buildings and architecture
- Follies and grottos
- French architecture
- London architecture
- Skyscrapers
- Naval architecture
- Architectural Details
- Architectural Photography
If you’re keen to find more, try searching here.
The following design and architecture blogs may also provide some inspiration:
- Dezeen architecture and design blog
- A Daily Dose of Architecture
- three85
- Materialicious
- BLDBLG
Please feel free to post your own architectural inspirations below. We’d love to see the works from around the bubble that have inspired you.
































nishagandhi
wow great works!!
Colleen Milburn
Yes, I love a great architecture shot!! They’re all gorgeous! Here’s one of mine – it’s an aspect of the ceiling of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in my hometown of Bendigo.

community replied
Great colours in this Colleen. Lovely …
Colleen Milburn
Thanks a bunch, sweetie :))
FlowersEtc
Beautiful, thanks. I have already been looking at the old buildings in my area. Their only from the 1800’s era. The nearest town only has three story buildings nothing really great to look at.
jo beerens
Architecture is best enjoined life and in person in my view. The bubble has its limitations when viewing architecture. You miss the size and overview for example. One of my own shots of the interior of a French church which sadly was in a bad state.
community replied
This is lovely Jo, and I agree … there’s nothing like seeing some of these grand buildings in the flesh.
F.A. Moore
Gorgeous, Colleen, wow!!
Architecture is so inspiring. You’re article is wonderful. Great links.
Loved seeing John Dicandia’s inspired pen and ink in the first group.
community replied
It’s a wonderful illustration isn’t it!
HRLambert
As an Architecture student i feel i should comment :) there are some amazing examples or architecture out there, which off some fantasic photographic chances for example The Gerkin, AKA Swiss HQ, in london, everyone photographs it in the london skyline….hehe not me!!!
Me and and my firend when around our Univeristy Campus on a Photography expidition with the theme of Light Infulenceing Architecture this is my favourtie
H xx
H x X
community replied
Ahhh yes. The Gherkin is a great building! I’m quite a fan of this image by Alastair Humphreys too:

Carla Jensen
Fanastic Images and a Outstanding job here as always was on putting together this wonderful article! They are always so full of fantastic info !!
I love the look of the old homes and builds ..abandon and falling apart or not …they have so much history behind them !
community replied
If you love buildings with loads of character, I’ve just fallen in love with this image by Alateia on the homepage:
DoreenPhillips
I just Love Buildings and here in Edinburgh everywhere you look there is History…...Gotham City Central…..LOL….....x
WonderFULL Images and I will be joining a few more groups today Nat….well done….x
community replied
Thanks Doreen. I’ve only visited Edinburgh for a day but it certainly is a beautiful city. Maybe I’ll have to get myself back up there with a camera :)
joan warburton
The Dakota, Central Park West, NYC:
Modern architecture NYC, the IAC and Emporis Buildings on 11th Ave. and 19th St.:
community replied
The second image in particular is wonderful Joan. They’re both great but I love the windows in that building in the background. Just like a mosaic …
F.A. Moore
Oooo, excellent, second image by HRLambert up there in the comments. Love that.
DoreenPhillips
One day???.....Not near enuff time…...But it really is an easy city to get around…....The Athen’s of The North they call it…......We will get the Piper’s oot for ya when you come back…...lol…....x
Julian Escardo
Great tribute to architecture – walk’em, feel’em, hug’em, buildings speak many languages…...as stated below, I find them very sensual from time to time.

DeviousLili
Nice!! Here’s one of mine:
and here’s one of my faves:
Sanne Thijs
here is some i really like. so cozy
gabryshak
my favorite RB architecture?
here’s a collection of mine titled architecture!
gabryshak
gabryshak
sorry, i seem to be RB-web-link impaired today…
this is my last post
♥t
Tama Blough
Thank you for highlighting my Architectural Details group!

I love architecture (or I wouldn’t have a group – lol) and this is my latest shot:
Matthew Walters
I find architecture fascinating, so many different approaches – from straight record shots to abstract views; the way light and shadow interplay to give different feelings to the textures throughout the day.
http://images-1.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:off%20white/product:framed-print/size:small/view:preview/1777035-2-what-and-where-am-i.jpg
http://images-1.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:off%20white/product:framed-print/size:small/view:preview/700680-3-selfridges-birmingham-form-or-function.jpg
Matthew
Matthew Walters
Ooops, forgot the !’s
Matt Mawson
I’ve taken part of the Queensland state library and rotated it …

Martyn Baker
Here’s a couple of my more archectural pieces![]()
Martyn Baker
Here’s a couple of my more archectural pieces

Mel Brackstone
This has got to be one of my all time faves, by meanderthal

Rosalie Dale IPA
Philip Johnson has some stunning Escher-like shots … this has to be an all-time classic

Martyn Baker
I tried to capture Philips work on the weekend but It doesn’t stand anywhere near his work
Frank Stillitano
Where’s Sjem? Must be researching…
Rosemary Scott
Wow, so many amazingly talented artists here! Architectural art is something I’ve always found so inspiring….. & it always leaves me lost & wondering why I don’t see the same things :D
richman
recently i have came across architectural art by marguerite foxon
below is detailing of one of the most photographed building in the world!

The Sydney Opera house
most folk would capture the iconic building full frontal, or try to pick out the shapes and patterns. they would keep the dimensions of the building , so you know what you are looking at.
I admire mageurite and her wonderful visionary work very much.
She is an artist who can take a well documented and photographed building and show you something new and different, something you may not have noticed before.
she has the talent to see things most people dont, and i feel this is a perfect example of something so reconizable, made unreconizable through her vision of sight
i found it a refreshing change to see the building through the eyes of marguerite.
Lois Bryan
I’m usually not one to pipe up on forum topics … I prefer to leave that to those of you who know what you’re doing. But I had to put my 2 cents worth in on this topic. I’ve recently come to the conclusion that as much as I love flower shots and puppy shots and … yes I adore barns and clouds, especially put together … it’s the architecture images that yank my eyeballs over every time. That being said, I thought I’d pop one of my own favorite architecture shots up.
I was walking my son around the campus of University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a few months back. The place was deserted except for a few summer students, and for once the light was in my favor.
I was in awe!!!!!
MUST do more of this!!!!!!
Last word on the subject … guys … you have posted some truly, truly amazing images here!!! What a joy to view them all!!!!! And WHAT an inspiration!!
Kasia-D
Great collection and links – thanks for the overview!

Although I don’t have many shots in RB I really appreciate this kind of photography, particularly abstract details or contrasting shapes. My personal current favourite taken when I happened to pass this much photographed BMW Welt building in Munich just around a wintry dusk: