In A Village is Born (German: Ein Dorf Wird) Stefan Kruckenhauser documents the construction and emergence of a workers' settlement in Kennelbach, Vorarlberg, Austria, between May 1950 and June 1951. Produced in response to the severe post-World War II housing crisis, the project highlights the collaborative effort between the construction company and local residents, addressing urgent social needs through practical solutions.
Kruckenhauser's artistic vision highlights themes of collective labor, neighborly cooperation, and the shared pursuit of stability and renewal in the aftermath of widespread destruction and displacement. Avoiding conventional documentation that focuses solely on hardship, the project intentionally spotlights the positivity and creativity of reconstruction efforts. By documenting the village’s transformation from empty land to lived-in homes, he highlights the role of collective effort in shaping new communities.
Utilizing his compact camera and traditional black-and-white film, Kruckenhauser delivers straightforward yet carefully composed images. The emphasis on clarity and balance, reinforced by deliberate framing and thoughtful interplay of light and shadow, underscores the project's hopeful narrative. Each photograph thoughtfully communicates the progress and transformation of the settlement, visually narrating the active engagement and satisfaction of the workers involved.
Published as a photobook in 1952, the project has since been widely revisited—from the group exhibition Ein Dorf wird – Revisited at FOTOHOF, Salzburg (2003) to the monographic retrospective Stefan Kruckenhauser: Ein Bild wird… at WestLicht, Vienna (2006), where vintage prints and original book layouts were shown—establishing it as a cornerstone of Austria’s early postwar photobook history and a culminating work in Kruckenhauser’s oeuvre.
