Horst Lechner (1959 - 2014) attended the carpentry school in Villach. After graduating from college, he studied interior design in Linz from 1977 to 1982 and was honored for his diploma thesis in 1983. This was followed by studying architecture in Vienna with Hans Hollein, which he completed in Linz in 1990. In 1982 he took part in the international summer academy in Salzburg. In 1987, Horst Lechner and Christine Lechner won the competition to redesign the saloon cars of the ÖBB, whereupon the two founded the Lechner & Lechner studio in Salzburg. Various teaching activities followed, including at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, ETH Zurich, Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences and the University of Innsbruck. In addition to buildings in Austria, Horst Lechner planned and implemented projects in Germany, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

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Horst Lechner was involved in the student council, the professional council of architects and the architecture initiative and was involved in the architectural appraisal of the city of Salzburg. Most recently he was a member of the advisory board for architecture of the Salzburg state government. Lechner has been a member of the board of the Central Association of Architects in Austria since 2012 and a member of the "Landluft" association since 2011

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Horst Lechner died unexpectedly of a heart attack on December 29, 2014 at the age of 55. In 2016 the theater director Ches Themann dedicated his Villingen production of the play "The Ambassador" to Horst Lechner. Lechner was employed as a set designer, but died during the preparatory work. Ches Themann completed the set itself in Lechner's sense. Also in 2016 a chapter in the book "People from Salzburg" was dedicated to him. His passion and creativity continue to be a great role model for all of us.