Lechner & Lechner Architekten is an architecture office established in 1987 by Christine and Horst Lechner, headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, though occasionally working on projects in or near Vienna. After the departure of Horst Lechner in 2015, the firm was reorganized as “lechner – lechner – lechner ZT gmbh,” now managed by Christine Lechner and her sons Paul and Horst Michael Lechner. The studio has five employees.
The office has a consistent focus on architectural interventions within existing historical contexts and addresses sustainability through the materiality and energy efficiency of its buildings. Over the decades, Lechner & Lechner has acquired experience across a range of typologies, from single-family houses to dense urban developments and social housing. Wood and wood hybrid construction are recurrent in their projects, reflecting the firm's commitment to low-impact and energy-efficient structures.
Recent examples include “Above the Trees,” a hillside residence in Salzburg finished in 2019, notable for its use of both timber and concrete, and for establishing a strong visual and spatial relationship between the house and its surrounding landscape. The “Farmschachstrasse” housing development in Saalfelden, Salzburg, demonstrates the office’s approach to accessible, socially integrated housing. Their buildings often feature energy-conscious design choices, such as extensive roof greening and the inclusion of photovoltaics.
Lechner & Lechner’s architectural work is shaped by both practical experimentation and engagement with academic discourse, including long-term collaborations with other architects and urban planners. The firm’s portfolio is marked by the pursuit of context-sensitive, durable, and spatially intelligent solutions.