Welcome

I recently returned from a family trek to Sweden, where in between dinners, reunions and sightseeing, a group of us took a hike to Kullaberg, a nature reserve along the country's southwestern shoreline. There, through a dense forest and down a steep cliff, we found Ladonia, a phantasmagorical, architectural art installation crafted by artist Lars Vilks.

Vilks began the installation in 1980, building a series of structures and towers made of found objects — primarily driftwood — on the rocky seashore. Think Frank Gehry meets Waterworld. The project has a colorful history, including clashes with local authorities, involvement by internationally known artists such as Joseph Beuys and Christo, a declaration of independence and more.

While some in our group fretted about building codes and structural engineering, I clambered up into the towers and across narrow catwalks, marveling at Vilk's ingenuity and design genius, given that he had virtually no budget and a palette of the humblest materials. As editor of Sources+Design, that thought often comes to mind — how design professionals can create visually rich and perfectly programmed buildings and interior spaces with (often) the simplest materials and the leanest of budgets. This issue's feature on retail design is a testament to that genius. We're featuring four projects — two fashion boutiques, two home furnishings showrooms — that were done with budget efficiency and readily available materials, showcasing not the backgrounds, but spotlighting the merchandise and creating a welcoming shopping environment.

Also in this issue, we're touring another "genius" project, Davis Partnership Architects' Anchor Center for Blind Children in Denver, where great thought and care went into creating a sensory-rich center for visually impaired young children, and the emphasis was on light, not darkness. Want more genius? Check out the feature on the first place–winning designs created by members of the Arizona North Chapter ASID.

In our next issue, we'll start out 2009 with a look at recent hotel and resort designs, plus bring you the best in regional architecture with a feature on the winners of the AIA Western Mountain Region Design Competition.

In the meantime, though, you can enjoy a virtual tour of Sweden's Ladonia by visiting www.ladonia.net.

Photograph by Felix Ahlcrona