diff --git a/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/compiler_benchmark.js b/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/compiler_benchmark.js
index 6eca478c1e..3b207c9012 100644
--- a/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/compiler_benchmark.js
+++ b/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/compiler_benchmark.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import {DOM, document} from 'facade/dom';
 import {isBlank, Type} from 'facade/lang';
 import {MapWrapper} from 'facade/collection';
-import {AnnotatedType} from 'core/compiler/annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from 'core/compiler/directive_metadata';
 
 import {Parser} from 'change_detection/parser/parser';
 import {Lexer} from 'change_detection/parser/lexer';
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export function main() {
   var reader = new DirectiveMetadataReader();
   var cache = new CompilerCache();
   var compiler = new Compiler(null, reader, new Parser(new Lexer()), cache);
-  var annotatedComponent = reader.annotatedType(BenchmarkComponent);
+  var annotatedComponent = reader.read(BenchmarkComponent);
 
   var templateNoBindings = loadTemplate('templateNoBindings', COUNT);
   var templateWithBindings = loadTemplate('templateWithBindings', COUNT);
diff --git a/modules/core/src/annotations/annotations.js b/modules/core/src/annotations/annotations.js
index f6333023df..40f292329e 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/annotations/annotations.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/annotations/annotations.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import {ABSTRACT, CONST, normalizeBlank} from 'facade/lang';
 import {List} from 'facade/collection';
 import {TemplateConfig} from './template_config';
+import {ShadowDomStrategy} from '../compiler/shadow_dom';
 
 
 @ABSTRACT()
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export class Component extends Directive {
   lightDomServices:any; //List;
   shadowDomServices:any; //List;
   componentServices:any; //List;
+  shadowDom:any; //ShadowDomStrategy;
 
   @CONST()
   constructor({
@@ -44,7 +46,8 @@ export class Component extends Directive {
     lightDomServices,
     shadowDomServices,
     componentServices,
-    implementsTypes
+    implementsTypes,
+    shadowDom
     }:{
     selector:String,
       bind:Object,
@@ -52,7 +55,8 @@ export class Component extends Directive {
       lightDomServices:List,
       shadowDomServices:List,
       componentServices:List,
-      implementsTypes:List
+      implementsTypes:List,
+      shadowDom:ShadowDomStrategy
   }={})
   {
     super({
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@ export class Component extends Directive {
     this.lightDomServices = lightDomServices;
     this.shadowDomServices = shadowDomServices;
     this.componentServices = componentServices;
+    this.shadowDom = shadowDom;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/core/src/application.js b/modules/core/src/application.js
index fd6edabb6e..b7b29a132c 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/application.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/application.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {ChangeDetector} from 'change_detection/change_detector';
 import {RecordRange} from 'change_detection/record_range';
 import {TemplateLoader} from './compiler/template_loader';
 import {DirectiveMetadataReader} from './compiler/directive_metadata_reader';
-import {AnnotatedType} from './compiler/annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from './compiler/directive_metadata';
 import {List, ListWrapper} from 'facade/collection';
 import {PromiseWrapper} from 'facade/async';
 import {VmTurnZone} from 'core/zone/vm_turn_zone';
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export function documentDependentBindings(appComponentType) {
         // TODO(rado): inspect annotation here and warn if there are bindings,
         // lightDomServices, and other component annotations that are skipped
         // for bootstrapping components.
-        return reader.annotatedType(appComponentType);
+        return reader.read(appComponentType);
       }, [DirectiveMetadataReader]),
 
       bind(appElementToken).toFactory((appComponentAnnotatedType, appDocument) => {
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/compiler.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/compiler.js
index 50e82378fa..efadcdb305 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/compiler.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/compiler.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {CompilePipeline} from './pipeline/compile_pipeline';
 import {CompileElement} from './pipeline/compile_element';
 import {createDefaultSteps} from './pipeline/default_steps';
 import {TemplateLoader} from './template_loader';
-import {AnnotatedType} from './annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from './directive_metadata';
 import {Component} from '../annotations/annotations';
 
 /**
@@ -59,12 +59,12 @@ export class Compiler {
     this._compilerCache = cache;
   }
 
-  createSteps(component:AnnotatedType):List<CompileStep> {
+  createSteps(component:DirectiveMetadata):List<CompileStep> {
     var annotation: Component = component.annotation;
     var directives = annotation.template.directives;
     var annotatedDirectives = ListWrapper.create();
     for (var i=0; i<directives.length; i++) {
-      ListWrapper.push(annotatedDirectives, this._reader.annotatedType(directives[i]));
+      ListWrapper.push(annotatedDirectives, this._reader.read(directives[i]));
     }
     return createDefaultSteps(this._parser, component, annotatedDirectives);
   }
@@ -75,12 +75,12 @@ export class Compiler {
     // transitively via the _templateLoader and store them in templateCache
 
     return PromiseWrapper.resolve(this.compileAllLoaded(
-      templateCache, this._reader.annotatedType(component), templateRoot)
+      templateCache, this._reader.read(component), templateRoot)
     );
   }
 
   // public so that we can compile in sync in performance tests.
-  compileAllLoaded(templateCache, component:AnnotatedType, templateRoot:Element = null):ProtoView {
+  compileAllLoaded(templateCache, component:DirectiveMetadata, templateRoot:Element = null):ProtoView {
     var rootProtoView = this._compilerCache.get(component.type);
     if (isPresent(rootProtoView)) {
       return rootProtoView;
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/annotated_type.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/directive_metadata.js
similarity index 50%
rename from modules/core/src/compiler/annotated_type.js
rename to modules/core/src/compiler/directive_metadata.js
index 27d201c8a2..743ac4464c 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/annotated_type.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/directive_metadata.js
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 import {Type, FIELD} from 'facade/lang';
 import {Directive} from '../annotations/annotations'
+import {ShadowDomStrategy} from './shadow_dom';
 
 /**
  * Combination of a type with the Directive annotation
  */
-export class AnnotatedType {
+export class DirectiveMetadata {
   type:Type;
   annotation:Directive;
-  constructor(type:Type, annotation:Directive) {
+  shadowDomStrategy:ShadowDomStrategy;
+
+  constructor(type:Type, annotation:Directive, shadowDomStrategy:ShadowDomStrategy) {
     this.annotation = annotation;
     this.type = type;
+    this.shadowDomStrategy = shadowDomStrategy;
   }
 }
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/directive_metadata_reader.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/directive_metadata_reader.js
index 10fb121782..1e0629db55 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/directive_metadata_reader.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/directive_metadata_reader.js
@@ -1,27 +1,29 @@
 import {Type, isPresent, BaseException, stringify} from 'facade/lang';
-import {Directive} from '../annotations/annotations';
-import {AnnotatedType} from './annotated_type';
+import {Directive, Component} from '../annotations/annotations';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from './directive_metadata';
 import {reflector} from 'reflection/reflection';
+import {ShadowDom, ShadowDomStrategy, ShadowDomNative} from './shadow_dom';
 
-/**
- * Interface representing a way of extracting [Directive] annotations from
- * [Type]. This interface has three native implementations:
- *
- * 1) JavaScript native implementation
- * 2) Dart reflective implementation
- * 3) Dart transformer generated implementation
- */
 export class DirectiveMetadataReader {
-  annotatedType(type:Type):AnnotatedType {
+  read(type:Type):DirectiveMetadata {
     var annotations = reflector.annotations(type);
     if (isPresent(annotations)) {
       for (var i=0; i<annotations.length; i++) {
         var annotation = annotations[i];
+
+        if (annotation instanceof Component) {
+          return new DirectiveMetadata(type, annotation, this.parseShadowDomStrategy(annotation));
+        }
+
         if (annotation instanceof Directive) {
-          return new AnnotatedType(type, annotation);
+          return new DirectiveMetadata(type, annotation, null);
         }
       }
     }
     throw new BaseException(`No Directive annotation found on ${stringify(type)}`);
   }
+
+  parseShadowDomStrategy(annotation:Component):ShadowDomStrategy{
+    return isPresent(annotation.shadowDom) ? annotation.shadowDom : ShadowDomNative;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/element_binder.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/element_binder.js
index ad5b9b0530..126698cf5f 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/element_binder.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/element_binder.js
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 import {ProtoElementInjector} from './element_injector';
 import {FIELD} from 'facade/lang';
 import {MapWrapper} from 'facade/collection';
-import {AnnotatedType} from './annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from './directive_metadata';
 import {List, Map} from 'facade/collection';
 import {ProtoView} from './view';
 
 export class ElementBinder {
   protoElementInjector:ProtoElementInjector;
-  componentDirective:AnnotatedType;
-  templateDirective:AnnotatedType;
+  componentDirective:DirectiveMetadata;
+  templateDirective:DirectiveMetadata;
   textNodeIndices:List<int>;
   hasElementPropertyBindings:boolean;
   nestedProtoView: ProtoView;
   events:Map;
   constructor(
-    protoElementInjector: ProtoElementInjector, componentDirective:AnnotatedType, templateDirective:AnnotatedType) {
+    protoElementInjector: ProtoElementInjector, componentDirective:DirectiveMetadata, templateDirective:DirectiveMetadata) {
     this.protoElementInjector = protoElementInjector;
     this.componentDirective = componentDirective;
     this.templateDirective = templateDirective;
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js
index a2bffb8102..cf4461b129 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import {List, Map, ListWrapper, MapWrapper} from 'facade/collection';
 import {Element, DOM} from 'facade/dom';
 import {int, isBlank, isPresent} from 'facade/lang';
-import {AnnotatedType} from '../annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from '../directive_metadata';
 import {Decorator} from '../../annotations/annotations';
 import {Component} from '../../annotations/annotations';
 import {Template} from '../../annotations/annotations';
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ export class CompileElement {
   propertyBindings:Map;
   eventBindings:Map;
   variableBindings:Map;
-  decoratorDirectives:List<AnnotatedType>;
-  templateDirective:AnnotatedType;
-  componentDirective:AnnotatedType;
+  decoratorDirectives:List<DirectiveMetadata>;
+  templateDirective:DirectiveMetadata;
+  componentDirective:DirectiveMetadata;
   isViewRoot:boolean;
   hasBindings:boolean;
   inheritedProtoView:ProtoView;
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ export class CompileElement {
     MapWrapper.set(this.eventBindings, eventName, expression);
   }
 
-  addDirective(directive:AnnotatedType) {
+  addDirective(directive:DirectiveMetadata) {
     var annotation = directive.annotation;
     if (annotation instanceof Decorator) {
       if (isBlank(this.decoratorDirectives)) {
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js
index 087e0dd3f0..2ca7604152 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {Element, Node, DOM} from 'facade/dom';
 import {CompileElement} from './compile_element';
 import {CompileControl} from './compile_control';
 import {CompileStep} from './compile_step';
-import {AnnotatedType} from '../annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from '../directive_metadata';
 
 /**
  * CompilePipeline for executing CompileSteps recursively for
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_step.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_step.js
index 6d3f81c8ea..98d99abe72 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_step.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/compile_step.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {CompileElement} from './compile_element';
 import {CompileControl} from './compile_control';
-import {AnnotatedType} from '../annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from '../directive_metadata';
 
 /**
  * One part of the compile process.
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js
index 51952be99f..5537c8e46b 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {ElementBindingMarker} from './element_binding_marker';
 import {ProtoViewBuilder} from './proto_view_builder';
 import {ProtoElementInjectorBuilder} from './proto_element_injector_builder';
 import {ElementBinderBuilder} from './element_binder_builder';
-import {AnnotatedType} from 'core/compiler/annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from 'core/compiler/directive_metadata';
 import {stringify} from 'facade/lang';
 
 /**
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ import {stringify} from 'facade/lang';
  * Takes in an HTMLElement and produces the ProtoViews,
  * ProtoElementInjectors and ElementBinders in the end.
  */
-export function createDefaultSteps(parser:Parser, compiledComponent: AnnotatedType,
-    directives: List<AnnotatedType>) {
+export function createDefaultSteps(parser:Parser, compiledComponent: DirectiveMetadata,
+    directives: List<DirectiveMetadata>) {
   var compilationUnit = stringify(compiledComponent.type);
 
   return [
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js
index c51a6b3e75..8c59feeed1 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {TemplateElement} from 'facade/dom';
 import {SelectorMatcher} from '../selector';
 import {CssSelector} from '../selector';
 
-import {AnnotatedType} from '../annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from '../directive_metadata';
 import {Template} from '../../annotations/annotations';
 import {Component} from '../../annotations/annotations';
 import {CompileStep} from './compile_step';
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ import {CompileControl} from './compile_control';
  */
 export class DirectiveParser extends CompileStep {
   _selectorMatcher:SelectorMatcher;
-  constructor(directives:List<AnnotatedType>) {
+  constructor(directives:List<DirectiveMetadata>) {
     this._selectorMatcher = new SelectorMatcher();
     for (var i=0; i<directives.length; i++) {
-      var annotatedType = directives[i];
+      var directiveMetadata = directives[i];
       this._selectorMatcher.addSelectable(
-        CssSelector.parse(annotatedType.annotation.selector),
-        annotatedType
+        CssSelector.parse(directiveMetadata.annotation.selector),
+        directiveMetadata
       );
     }
   }
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js
index 1716f68f42..4c36128669 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {Parser} from 'change_detection/parser/parser';
 import {ProtoRecordRange} from 'change_detection/record_range';
 
 import {Component, Directive} from '../../annotations/annotations';
-import {AnnotatedType} from '../annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from '../directive_metadata';
 import {ProtoView, ElementPropertyMemento, DirectivePropertyMemento} from '../view';
 import {ProtoElementInjector} from '../element_injector';
 import {ElementBinder} from '../element_binder';
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom.dart b/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..47df6809a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+library angular.core.compiler.shadow_dom;
+
+//TODO: merge this file with shadow_dom.es6 when the traspiler support creating const globals
+
+import './shadow_dom_strategy.dart';
+export './shadow_dom_strategy.dart';
+
+const ShadowDomEmulated = const EmulatedShadowDomStrategy();
+const ShadowDomNative = const NativeShadowDomStrategy();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom.es6 b/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom.es6
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..485d799768
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom.es6
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import {EmulatedShadowDomStrategy, NativeShadowDomStrategy} from './shadow_dom_strategy';
+export * from './shadow_dom_strategy';
+
+export var ShadowDomEmulated = new EmulatedShadowDomStrategy();
+export var ShadowDomNative = new NativeShadowDomStrategy();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom_strategy.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom_strategy.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..21b11093d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/shadow_dom_strategy.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import {CONST} from 'facade/lang';
+import {DOM} from 'facade/dom';
+import {Element} from 'facade/dom';
+import {View} from './view';
+
+export class ShadowDomStrategy {
+  @CONST() constructor() {}
+  attachTemplate(el:Element, view:View){}
+}
+
+export class EmulatedShadowDomStrategy extends ShadowDomStrategy {
+  @CONST() constructor() {}
+  attachTemplate(el:Element, view:View){
+    DOM.clearNodes(el);
+    moveViewNodesIntoParent(el, view);
+  }
+}
+
+export class NativeShadowDomStrategy extends ShadowDomStrategy {
+  @CONST() constructor() {}
+  attachTemplate(el:Element, view:View){
+    moveViewNodesIntoParent(el.createShadowRoot(), view);
+  }
+}
+
+function moveViewNodesIntoParent(parent, view) {
+  for (var i = 0; i < view.nodes.length; ++i) {
+    DOM.appendChild(parent, view.nodes[i]);
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/view.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/view.js
index 36d6aacf94..652786c499 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/view.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/view.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {AST} from 'change_detection/parser/ast';
 
 import {ProtoElementInjector, ElementInjector, PreBuiltObjects} from './element_injector';
 import {ElementBinder} from './element_binder';
-import {AnnotatedType} from './annotated_type';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from './directive_metadata';
 import {SetterFn} from 'reflection/types';
 import {FIELD, IMPLEMENTS, int, isPresent, isBlank, BaseException} from 'facade/lang';
 import {Injector} from 'di/di';
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ export class ProtoView {
       if (isPresent(binder.componentDirective)) {
         var childView = binder.nestedProtoView.instantiate(elementInjector);
         view.recordRange.addRange(childView.recordRange);
-        ViewPort.moveViewNodesIntoParent(element.createShadowRoot(), childView);
+
+        binder.componentDirective.shadowDomStrategy.attachTemplate(element, childView);
         ListWrapper.push(componentChildViews, childView);
       }
     }
@@ -367,7 +368,7 @@ export class ProtoView {
   }
 
   bindElement(protoElementInjector:ProtoElementInjector,
-      componentDirective:AnnotatedType = null, templateDirective:AnnotatedType = null):ElementBinder {
+      componentDirective:DirectiveMetadata = null, templateDirective:DirectiveMetadata = null):ElementBinder {
     var elBinder = new ElementBinder(protoElementInjector, componentDirective, templateDirective);
     ListWrapper.push(this.elementBinders, elBinder);
     return elBinder;
@@ -434,7 +435,7 @@ export class ProtoView {
   // and the component template is already compiled into protoView.
   // Used for bootstrapping.
   static createRootProtoView(protoView: ProtoView,
-      insertionElement, rootComponentAnnotatedType: AnnotatedType): ProtoView {
+      insertionElement, rootComponentAnnotatedType: DirectiveMetadata): ProtoView {
     DOM.addClass(insertionElement, 'ng-binding');
     var rootProtoView = new ProtoView(insertionElement, new ProtoRecordRange());
     rootProtoView.instantiateInPlace = true;
diff --git a/modules/core/src/compiler/viewport.js b/modules/core/src/compiler/viewport.js
index e49a8931bd..f9d613e346 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/compiler/viewport.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/compiler/viewport.js
@@ -105,12 +105,6 @@ export class ViewPort {
     }
   }
 
-  static moveViewNodesIntoParent(parent, view) {
-    for (var i = 0; i < view.nodes.length; ++i) {
-      DOM.appendChild(parent, view.nodes[i]);
-    }
-  }
-
   static moveViewNodesAfterSibling(sibling, view) {
     for (var i = view.nodes.length - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
       DOM.insertAfter(sibling, view.nodes[i]);
diff --git a/modules/core/test/compiler/compiler_spec.js b/modules/core/test/compiler/compiler_spec.js
index 06f6b0464a..0839cbc911 100644
--- a/modules/core/test/compiler/compiler_spec.js
+++ b/modules/core/test/compiler/compiler_spec.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ export function main() {
         current.inheritedProtoView = new ProtoView(current.element, null);
         current.inheritedElementBinder = current.inheritedProtoView.bindElement(null);
         if (current.element === mainEl) {
-          current.componentDirective = reader.annotatedType(NestedComponent);
+          current.componentDirective = reader.read(NestedComponent);
         }
       });
       compiler.compile(MainComponent, mainEl).then( (protoView) => {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export function main() {
       var compiler = createCompiler( (parent, current, control) => {
         current.inheritedProtoView = new ProtoView(current.element, null);
         current.inheritedElementBinder = current.inheritedProtoView.bindElement(null);
-        current.componentDirective = reader.annotatedType(RecursiveComponent);
+        current.componentDirective = reader.read(RecursiveComponent);
       });
       compiler.compile(RecursiveComponent, null).then( (protoView) => {
         expect(protoView.elementBinders[0].nestedProtoView).toBe(protoView);
diff --git a/modules/core/test/compiler/directive_metadata_reader_spec.js b/modules/core/test/compiler/directive_metadata_reader_spec.js
index 1adc2f16a0..45011f9383 100644
--- a/modules/core/test/compiler/directive_metadata_reader_spec.js
+++ b/modules/core/test/compiler/directive_metadata_reader_spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import {ddescribe, describe, it, iit, expect, beforeEach} from 'test_lib/test_lib';
 import {DirectiveMetadataReader} from 'core/compiler/directive_metadata_reader';
-import {Decorator} from 'core/annotations/annotations';
-import {AnnotatedType} from 'core/compiler/annotated_type';
+import {Decorator, Component} from 'core/annotations/annotations';
+import {DirectiveMetadata} from 'core/compiler/directive_metadata';
+import {ShadowDomEmulated, ShadowDomNative} from 'core/compiler/shadow_dom';
 
 @Decorator({
   selector: 'someSelector'
@@ -9,28 +10,50 @@ import {AnnotatedType} from 'core/compiler/annotated_type';
 class SomeDirective {
 }
 
+@Component({
+  selector: 'someSelector'
+})
+class ComponentWithoutExplicitShadowDomStrategy {}
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'someSelector',
+  shadowDom: ShadowDomEmulated
+})
+class ComponentWithExplicitShadowDomStrategy {}
+
 class SomeDirectiveWithoutAnnotation {
 }
 
 export function main() {
   describe("DirectiveMetadataReader", () => {
-    var rader;
+    var reader;
 
     beforeEach( () => {
-      rader = new DirectiveMetadataReader();
+      reader = new DirectiveMetadataReader();
     });
 
     it('should read out the annotation', () => {
-      var annoatedDirective = rader.annotatedType(SomeDirective);
-      expect(annoatedDirective).toEqual(
-        new AnnotatedType(SomeDirective, new Decorator({selector: 'someSelector'})));
+      var directiveMetadata = reader.read(SomeDirective);
+      expect(directiveMetadata).toEqual(
+        new DirectiveMetadata(SomeDirective, new Decorator({selector: 'someSelector'}), null));
     });
 
     it('should throw if not matching annotation is found', () => {
       expect(() => {
-        rader.annotatedType(SomeDirectiveWithoutAnnotation);
+        reader.read(SomeDirectiveWithoutAnnotation);
       }).toThrowError('No Directive annotation found on SomeDirectiveWithoutAnnotation');
     });
 
+    describe("shadow dom strategy", () => {
+      it('should return the provided shadow dom strategy when it is present', () => {
+        var directiveMetadata = reader.read(ComponentWithExplicitShadowDomStrategy);
+        expect(directiveMetadata.shadowDomStrategy).toEqual(ShadowDomEmulated);
+      });
+
+      it('should return Native otherwise', () => {
+        var directiveMetadata = reader.read(ComponentWithoutExplicitShadowDomStrategy);
+        expect(directiveMetadata.shadowDomStrategy).toEqual(ShadowDomNative);
+      });
+    });
   });
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js
index 43a5bd7bf3..aa171ce03e 100644
--- a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js
+++ b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export function main() {
       var parser = new Parser(new Lexer());
       var annotatedDirectives = ListWrapper.create();
       for (var i=0; i<directives.length; i++) {
-        ListWrapper.push(annotatedDirectives, reader.annotatedType(directives[i]));
+        ListWrapper.push(annotatedDirectives, reader.read(directives[i]));
       }
 
       return new CompilePipeline([new MockStep((parent, current, control) => {
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function main() {
     describe('component directives', () => {
       it('should detect them in attributes', () => {
         var results = createPipeline().process(createElement('<div some-comp></div>'));
-        expect(results[0].componentDirective).toEqual(reader.annotatedType(SomeComponent));
+        expect(results[0].componentDirective).toEqual(reader.read(SomeComponent));
       });
 
       it('should detect them in property bindings', () => {
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export function main() {
           'some-comp': 'someExpr'
         }});
         var results = pipeline.process(createElement('<div></div>'));
-        expect(results[0].componentDirective).toEqual(reader.annotatedType(SomeComponent));
+        expect(results[0].componentDirective).toEqual(reader.read(SomeComponent));
       });
 
       it('should detect them in variable bindings', () => {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export function main() {
           'some-comp': 'someExpr'
         }});
         var results = pipeline.process(createElement('<div></div>'));
-        expect(results[0].componentDirective).toEqual(reader.annotatedType(SomeComponent));
+        expect(results[0].componentDirective).toEqual(reader.read(SomeComponent));
       });
 
       it('should not allow multiple component directives on the same element', () => {
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ export function main() {
     describe('template directives', () => {
       it('should detect them in attributes', () => {
         var results = createPipeline().process(createElement('<template some-templ></template>'));
-        expect(results[0].templateDirective).toEqual(reader.annotatedType(SomeTemplate));
+        expect(results[0].templateDirective).toEqual(reader.read(SomeTemplate));
       });
 
       it('should detect them in property bindings', () => {
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ export function main() {
           'some-templ': 'someExpr'
         }});
         var results = pipeline.process(createElement('<template></template>'));
-        expect(results[0].templateDirective).toEqual(reader.annotatedType(SomeTemplate));
+        expect(results[0].templateDirective).toEqual(reader.read(SomeTemplate));
       });
 
       it('should detect them in variable bindings', () => {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ export function main() {
           'some-templ': 'someExpr'
         }});
         var results = pipeline.process(createElement('<template></template>'));
-        expect(results[0].templateDirective).toEqual(reader.annotatedType(SomeTemplate));
+        expect(results[0].templateDirective).toEqual(reader.read(SomeTemplate));
       });
 
       it('should not allow multiple template directives on the same element', () => {
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ export function main() {
     describe('decorator directives', () => {
       it('should detect them in attributes', () => {
         var results = createPipeline().process(createElement('<div some-decor></div>'));
-        expect(results[0].decoratorDirectives).toEqual([reader.annotatedType(SomeDecorator)]);
+        expect(results[0].decoratorDirectives).toEqual([reader.read(SomeDecorator)]);
       });
 
       it('should detect them in property bindings', () => {
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ export function main() {
           'some-decor': 'someExpr'
         }});
         var results = pipeline.process(createElement('<div></div>'));
-        expect(results[0].decoratorDirectives).toEqual([reader.annotatedType(SomeDecorator)]);
+        expect(results[0].decoratorDirectives).toEqual([reader.read(SomeDecorator)]);
       });
 
       it('should detect them in variable bindings', () => {
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ export function main() {
           'some-decor': 'someExpr'
         }});
         var results = pipeline.process(createElement('<div></div>'));
-        expect(results[0].decoratorDirectives).toEqual([reader.annotatedType(SomeDecorator)]);
+        expect(results[0].decoratorDirectives).toEqual([reader.read(SomeDecorator)]);
       });
 
       it('should not allow decorator directives on <template> elements', () => {
diff --git a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js
index 8d7bb22a9e..29a5fe79e3 100644
--- a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js
+++ b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export function main() {
             if (isPresent(current.element.getAttribute('directives'))) {
               hasBinding = true;
               for (var i=0; i<directives.length; i++) {
-                current.addDirective(reflector.annotatedType(directives[i]));
+                current.addDirective(reflector.read(directives[i]));
               }
             }
             if (hasBinding) {
diff --git a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binding_marker_spec.js b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binding_marker_spec.js
index 814c6afbbe..28d206e549 100644
--- a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binding_marker_spec.js
+++ b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/element_binding_marker_spec.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export function main() {
             }
             if (isPresent(directives)) {
               for (var i=0; i<directives.length; i++) {
-                current.addDirective(reader.annotatedType(directives[i]));
+                current.addDirective(reader.read(directives[i]));
               }
             }
           }), new ElementBindingMarker()
diff --git a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/proto_element_injector_builder_spec.js b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/proto_element_injector_builder_spec.js
index cf5852f165..04cc9727c6 100644
--- a/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/proto_element_injector_builder_spec.js
+++ b/modules/core/test/compiler/pipeline/proto_element_injector_builder_spec.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export function main() {
         }
         if (isPresent(current.element.getAttribute('directives'))) {
           for (var i=0; i<directives.length; i++) {
-            current.addDirective(reader.annotatedType(directives[i]));
+            current.addDirective(reader.read(directives[i]));
           }
         }
         current.inheritedProtoView = protoView;
diff --git a/modules/core/test/compiler/view_spec.js b/modules/core/test/compiler/view_spec.js
index aaf297c3b9..ac32eb5031 100644
--- a/modules/core/test/compiler/view_spec.js
+++ b/modules/core/test/compiler/view_spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import {describe, xit, it, expect, beforeEach, ddescribe, iit} from 'test_lib/test_lib';
 import {ProtoView, ElementPropertyMemento, DirectivePropertyMemento} from 'core/compiler/view';
 import {ProtoElementInjector, ElementInjector} from 'core/compiler/element_injector';
+import {ShadowDomEmulated} from 'core/compiler/shadow_dom';
 import {DirectiveMetadataReader} from 'core/compiler/directive_metadata_reader';
 import {Component, Decorator, Template} from 'core/annotations/annotations';
 import {OnChange} from 'core/core';
@@ -29,8 +30,8 @@ export function main() {
 
     beforeEach(() => {
       parser = new Parser(new Lexer());
-      someComponentDirective = new DirectiveMetadataReader().annotatedType(SomeComponent);
-      someTemplateDirective = new DirectiveMetadataReader().annotatedType(SomeTemplate);
+      someComponentDirective = new DirectiveMetadataReader().read(SomeComponent);
+      someTemplateDirective = new DirectiveMetadataReader().read(SomeTemplate);
     });
 
     describe('instatiated from protoView', () => {
@@ -258,15 +259,6 @@ export function main() {
           return view;
         }
 
-        it('should create shadow dom', () => {
-          var subpv = new ProtoView(createElement('<span>hello shadow dom</span>'), new ProtoRecordRange());
-          var pv = createComponentWithSubPV(subpv);
-
-          var view = createNestedView(pv);
-
-          expect(view.nodes[0].shadowRoot.childNodes[0].childNodes[0].nodeValue).toEqual('hello shadow dom');
-        });
-
         it('should expose component services to the component', () => {
           var subpv = new ProtoView(createElement('<span></span>'), new ProtoRecordRange());
           var pv = createComponentWithSubPV(subpv);
@@ -316,6 +308,28 @@ export function main() {
           view.componentChildViews.forEach(
               (view) => expectViewHasNoDirectiveInstances(view));
         });
+
+        it('should create shadow dom', () => {
+          var subpv = new ProtoView(createElement('<span>hello shadow dom</span>'), new ProtoRecordRange());
+          var pv = createComponentWithSubPV(subpv);
+
+          var view = createNestedView(pv);
+
+          expect(view.nodes[0].shadowRoot.childNodes[0].childNodes[0].nodeValue).toEqual('hello shadow dom');
+        });
+
+        it('should use the provided shadow DOM strategy', () => {
+          var subpv = new ProtoView(createElement('<span>hello shadow dom</span>'), new ProtoRecordRange());
+
+          var pv = new ProtoView(createElement('<cmp class="ng-binding"></cmp>'), new ProtoRecordRange());
+          var binder = pv.bindElement(new ProtoElementInjector(null, 0, [SomeComponentWithEmulatedShadowDom], true));
+          binder.componentDirective = new DirectiveMetadataReader().read(SomeComponentWithEmulatedShadowDom);
+          binder.nestedProtoView = subpv;
+
+          var view = createNestedView(pv);
+          expect(view.nodes[0].childNodes[0].childNodes[0].nodeValue).toEqual('hello shadow dom');
+        });
+
       });
 
       describe('with template views', () => {
@@ -485,6 +499,12 @@ class SomeComponent {
   }
 }
 
+@Component({
+  shadowDom: ShadowDomEmulated
+})
+class SomeComponentWithEmulatedShadowDom {
+}
+
 @Decorator({
   selector: '[dec]'
 })
diff --git a/modules/facade/src/dom.dart b/modules/facade/src/dom.dart
index b1ff4cd479..e463a0679a 100644
--- a/modules/facade/src/dom.dart
+++ b/modules/facade/src/dom.dart
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ class DOM {
   static List<Node> childNodes(el) {
     return el.childNodes;
   }
+  static clearNodes(el) {
+    el.nodes = [];
+  }
   static appendChild(el, node) {
     el.append(node);
   }
diff --git a/modules/facade/src/dom.es6 b/modules/facade/src/dom.es6
index 34fccae5fd..b6560a0195 100644
--- a/modules/facade/src/dom.es6
+++ b/modules/facade/src/dom.es6
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ export class DOM {
   static childNodes(el):NodeList {
     return el.childNodes;
   }
+  static clearNodes(el) {
+    el.innerHTML = "";
+  }
   static appendChild(el, node) {
     el.appendChild(node);
   }