Bärnbach · St. Barbara

Location: Exterior facade and church tower
Dating: 1987–1988
Material / Type: Ceramic mosaics, colored plaster surfaces, colorful tiled roof with eight gold-plated balls, gold-plated tower onion made of copper sheet (36 m high tower)
Artist / manufacturer: Friedensreich Hundertwasser (design), Manfred Fuchsbichler (architect)
In 1987/88, Hundertwasser and architect Manfred Fuchsbichler completely redesigned the originally simple facade: ceramic mosaics, colored plaster surfaces and rounded structures at the corners break up the strict architecture. The 36 meter high tower has a gold-plated copper onion and the colorful tiled roof has eight gold-plated balls.

Location: Processional path around the church
Dating: 1987–1991
Material/Type: Concrete columns with ceramic elements, grassy roofs
Artist/Manufacturer: Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Twelve archways along the irregularly paved procession path represent the major world religions and world views - from Christianity to Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism to the “Gate of Non-Believers”. Hundertwasser saw it as a gesture of ecumenism, tolerance and togetherness.

Location: choir room, behind the altar
Dating: 1987/1988
Material/Type: Marble and Ceramic, 21 Rays
Artist/Manufacturer: Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Behind the altar, Hundertwasser personally designed a halo of 21 rays in marble and ceramic - one of his few personally executed works in the interior of the church.

Location: baptismal niche in the nave
Dating: 1987/1988
Material/Type: Stained Glass, Round Window
Artist/Manufacturer: Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Above the historic baptismal font, Hundertwasser designed a round window with a colorful glass spiral and a cross - one of the few elements he personally executed inside the church.

Location: choir room
Dating: 1987/1988
Material / Type: Glass cube with twelve different colored layers of earth (quartz sand, brown coal, earth)
Artist/Manufacturer: Erwin Talker
The people's altar and ambo were designed by Erwin Talker from glass blocks with twelve different colored layers of earth - from quartz sand, brown coal and earth samples that come from Israel, the Vatican, Kiev and Dachau, among others, and symbolically connect the church with the whole world.

Location: Longhouse
Dating: consecrated February 17, 1989
Material/Type: 14 paintings on wooden panels, golden frames
Artist/Manufacturer: Rudolf Pointner
Rudolf Pointner's fourteen-part Way of the Cross was consecrated on February 17, 1989. The stations are painted on wooden panels and framed in gold.

Location: Choir (gallery)
Dating: 1994
Material/Type: Wood and Metal; Rückpositiv, two manuals, pedal, 21 registers, 1340 pipes, mechanical slider drawers
Artist/Manufacturer: Rieger Orgelbau
Today's organ was built in 1994 by the Rieger Orgelbau company and consecrated on September 4, 1994. It has a Rückpositiv, two manuals, pedal, 21 registers and 1340 pipes with mechanical sliding chests.

The Church of St. Barbara was built between 1948 and 1950 according to plans by architect Karl Lebwohl - the groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 21, 1948, and the blessing took place on May 21, 1950. On January 1, 1952, it was elevated to a parish church under the first pastor Franz Derler, and the church consecration took place on October 27, 1957.
In 1987/88, Friedensreich Hundertwasser fundamentally redesigned the church together with architect Manfred Fuchsbichler; Bishop Johann Weber carried out the new consecration on September 4, 1988 under Pastor Friedrich Zeck. In 2016, as part of a restoration, the eight balls and the tower onion were re-gilded under Pastor Winfried Lembacher.

The church is dedicated to Saint Barbara, whose feast day is celebrated on December 4th.

- 1948–1950: Construction of the church according to plans by architect Karl Lebwohl; Blessing on May 21, 1950.
- 1952: Elevation to parish church on January 1, 1952 under the first pastor Franz Derler.
- 1957: Church consecration on October 27, 1957.
- 1987–1988: Fundamental redesign by Friedensreich Hundertwasser with architect Manfred Fuchsbichler; Re-consecration on September 4, 1988 by Bishop Johann Weber, under Pastor Friedrich Zeck.
- 2016: Restoration: Re-gilding of the eight balls and the tower bulb (June–October 2016) under Pastor Winfried Lembacher.

- 1952: Opening/elevation to parish church under Pastor Franz Derler.
- October 12, 1987: Construction of the redesign by Friedensreich Hundertwasser begins.
- September 4, 1988: Re-consecration of the redesigned church by Bishop Johann Weber under Pastor Friedrich Zeck.
- February 17, 1989: Consecration of the 14-part Way of the Cross by Rudolf Pointner.
- June–October 2016: Restoration with re-gilding of the balls and the tower bulb under Pastor Winfried Lembacher.