Bendigo TAFE student Lachlan McKern has been recognised amongst Australia’s most promising building designers, clinching two awards at the recent 2021 Design Matters National Building Design Awards (VIC, NSW & SA).

The 21-year-old won ‘Best Digital Presentation’ and ‘Best Response to a Design Brief by a Building Design Student’ for his interior and exterior designs of residential and commercial spaces.

An aspiring architect, Mr McKern said inspiration came from many sources while developing the winning designs – from the culture and history of his hometown Bendigo, right through to social media glimpses of architectural feats around world.

“I tried to incorporate the changing, modern nature of architecture into my work, while still respecting the traditions of the lands that I was designing in, which in this case was Bendigo with its rich culture and history,” he said.

Having discovered a love for architecture as a teen, Mr McKern said he enjoyed the process of creating an architectural design.

“I love how personal architecture can be. Anyone can come up with their own design and it will always be different,” he said.

“I also enjoy the challenge of designing for not just aesthetic values, but also for maximum usage and comfortability.” Mr McKern’s award wins were a culmination of a year’s hard work and strong support from Bendigo TAFE teachers.

“When I found out I had won the award I was over the moon, especially after all my hard work and dedication this year,” said Mr McKern.

“The teachers at Bendigo TAFE, Brian Stratford and Sonia Vescovi, have been of massive help to me, especially during the tough period of COVID restrictions. They have inspired me to do better throughout the course of my studies.”

Bendigo TAFE chief executive Sally Curtain said Mr McKern’s achievements demonstrate the resilience of students after a challenging year due to the global pandemic.

“We’re incredibly proud of Lachlan for achieving two wins at the 2021 Design Matters National Building Awards. His achievements reflect expertise, creativity and a true passion for design,” said Ms Curtain.

“Lachlan’s success also reflects the resilience of our students who have stayed committed to their studies all year, despite disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also reflects the incredible effort of our educators who have supported our students through an unprecedented year.”

Employed at Bendigo-based design firm, My Elusive Design, Mr McKern’s current work includes designs for rural developments and townhouses across Melbourne and Bendigo. He also runs his own brand, McKern Design.

Having recently completed the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) at Bendigo TAFE, Mr McKern plans to pursue a Bachelor of Architecture next.