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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:

  1. Old Columns by taylorsavvy
  2. Under City Lights by Melissa Park
  3. We build towers to watch them crumble by Nataly B. Basave
  4. Melbourne Open House: Australian Travel Photography & Writing by Jared Revell


A selection of related groups on RedBubble:

  1. Architecture and cityscapes
  2. Contemporary Architecture
  3. Hand painted or drawn buildings and architecture
  4. Follies and grottos
  5. French architecture
  6. London architecture
  7. Skyscrapers
  8. Naval architecture
  9. Architectural Details
  10. Architectural Photography

If you’re keen to find more, try searching here.

The following design and architecture blogs may also provide some inspiration:

  1. Dezeen architecture and design blog
  2. A Daily Dose of Architecture
  3. three85
  4. Materialicious
  5. 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.

Nat

  • nishagandhi

    nishagandhi

    wow great works!!

  • Colleen Milburn

    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

    Colleen Milburn

    Thanks a bunch, sweetie :))

  • FlowersEtc

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    F.A. Moore

    Oooo, excellent, second image by HRLambert up there in the comments. Love that.

  • DoreenPhillips

    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

    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

    DeviousLili

    Nice!! Here’s one of mine:

    and here’s one of my faves:

  • Sanne Thijs

    Sanne Thijs

    here is some i really like. so cozy

  • gabryshak

    gabryshak

    my favorite RB architecture?

    here’s a collection of mine titled architecture!

  • gabryshak
  • gabryshak

    gabryshak

    sorry, i seem to be RB-web-link impaired today…
    this is my last post

    ♥t

  • Tama Blough

    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

    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

    Matthew Walters

    Ooops, forgot the !’s

  • Matt Mawson

    Matt Mawson

    I’ve taken part of the Queensland state library and rotated it …

  • Martyn Baker

    Martyn Baker

    Here’s a couple of my more archectural pieces

  • Martyn Baker

    Martyn Baker

    Here’s a couple of my more archectural pieces

  • Mel Brackstone

    Mel Brackstone

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

  • Rosalie Dale IPA

    Rosalie Dale IPA

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

  • Martyn Baker

    Martyn Baker

    I tried to capture Philips work on the weekend but It doesn’t stand anywhere near his work

  • Frank Stillitano

    Frank Stillitano

    Where’s Sjem? Must be researching…

  • Rosemary Scott

    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

    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

    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

    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:

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