Hundertwasser Osterreich-Brunnen (Hundertwasser Austria Fountain), Zell am See

Hundertwasser Österreich-Brunnen, also known as the Hundertwasser Austria Fountain, is a lakeside work by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, created between 1996 and 2003. It began as an ecological landscape project commissioned by hotelier Wilfried Holleis, later gaining a national theme from Hundertwasser. Lake water circulates through the fountain, rises, and falls back in cascades, linking water, plants, stone, and ceramics in one continuous system.

The fountain is built around nine columns, each representing one of Austria’s federal states. Each column represents an Austrian federal state, with its height based on that state’s population. The ceramic colors reflect the provinces’ coats of arms and echo Hundertwasser’s earlier ideas for Austrian license plates. Uneven shapes and varied surfaces show his preference for organic forms over straight lines.

The project was completed with the help of important collaborators. Peter Pelikan handled the planning, while sculptor Hans Muhr carried out the water feature after Hundertwasser’s death. The planted sections support the fountain’s ecological water cycle, and the cascades cool the air while adding sound and movement. Viewed from different angles, the work shows Hundertwasser’s mix of art, nature, and Austrian symbolism.