Neuapostolische Kirche Linz

The Neuapostolic Church in Linz stands in the Scharlinz district, a quiet residential area on the city’s western edge. Built between 1980 and 1982 to designs by architect Hans Ritt, the building occupies a fenced green plot near the Catholic parish church of St Antonius. The church is a long rectangular structure of exposed concrete and brick, its west wall stepped inward and its flat copper roof divided by strong vertical ribs. A recessed entrance in the north-west corner leads under a small canopy, above which the denomination’s emblem—a cross framed by sun and water symbols—is set into the façade. Inside, the worship space faces south and is lit by tall windows along the staggered west wall. From the entrance lobby a gallery with a projecting front rail can be reached, offering additional seating. The lobby also contains a cloakroom, a vestry for clergy, and a small room for parents with infants. The raised altar platform is paved with artificial stone, and the ceiling is a suspended flat surface of patterned plasterboard and pine strips with recessed lights. The only decoration is the denomination’s emblem on the south wall; the altar itself is a marble slab on a synthetic base, and an organ by Hans Ritt fills the eastern side of the hall. The churchyard is laid out as a small park with shrubs and benches, enclosed by a low fence. A tarmac car park lies beside the building, screened by the surrounding greenery. The interior furnishings—pews grouped in two blocks, upholstered in fabric—are simple and functional, reflecting the architect’s emphasis on clear lines and natural materials.