Often efforts to reinvigorate commercial centers are theme based, and in the winter resort context, a common goal is to achieve the look and feel of an European alpine village amid expensive condominium residences and retail opportunities. Here, the redevelopment of the Lionshead area of Vail, Colorado provides an almost cartoon setting to a slope-side environment.

How could alternate designs and materials achieve a cohesive sense of place without imposing a fantasy upon the preexisting setting? Is this another instance of the issues first raised in the “nothing can come of nothing” discussion recently reposted from seattlepi.com?