St. Barbarakirche, Parish church in Bärnbach, Austria
St. Barbarakirche in Bärnbach is a single-nave parish church built by Karl Lebwohl in 1948–1950 and reworked by Friedensreich Hundertwasser in 1987–1988. Its south tower carries a gilded onion dome and a blue-painted section with a clock, a painted anchor with Alpha and Omega, a sundial and the words "LIES" and "OSTA". The walls have coloured ceramic elements and the red roof is painted with green oval patches.
The church was built in 1950 and underwent major redesign between 1987 and 1988 by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. This transformation completely changed its appearance into a modern religious structure.
The building displays symbols representing different world religions through its colorful design and twelve gates, each dedicated to a faith tradition. This visual language makes diversity and interfaith understanding immediately apparent to visitors.
The site is best explored on foot, with the twelve gates and archways forming an informative path that visitors can traverse at a leisurely pace. The outdoor areas are freely accessible, allowing time to view the architectural details from different angles.
The building deliberately avoids straight lines throughout, instead employing curves and organic forms in its entire construction. This design approach is uncommon for a religious structure and gives it a distinctly personal artistic expression.
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