Miniature park

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Part of the one-ninth scale model of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, England
Part of the one-ninth scale model of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, England

A miniature park is an open space that displays miniature buildings and models, and is usually open to the public. A miniature park may contain a model of a single city or town, often called a miniature city or model village, or it can contain a number of different sets of models. They have been developed as recreational and tourist attractions, with possible roots in Japanese miniature gardens.

Most examples are located in landscaped outdoor spaces, but the definition has widened in recent years to encompass large scale miniature landscapes indoors.

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[edit] History

A model of a burning house at Bekonscot
A model of a burning house at Bekonscot

There is evidence to suggest the existence of private model villages and miniature parks since the 19th century, but it was only in the 1930s to 1950s that the genre became tourist attractions. Early examples include Bekonscot in the UK and Madurodam in the Hague.

[edit] Variations on a theme

"Mini-Tapiola" is a miniature version of the centre of Tapiola, Espoo, within the centre itself.
"Mini-Tapiola" is a miniature version of the centre of Tapiola, Espoo, within the centre itself.

Most model villages and parks are built to a consistent scale; varying from 1:72 as used by the intricately-detailed "Pendon" in England up to the 1:9 scale of Wimborne Model Town.

Continental Europe and Asia have tended to favour the scale of 1:25, whilst North American and UK examples have been based upon 1:12 and other variants.

There has been a move away from the "model village" concept since the mid-late 20th Century towards a "miniature park" concept. Model villages are typically larger-scale, sit in a cohesive miniature landscape and allow viewing and physical interaction with the exhibits, such as publicly-accessed streets and urban areas. Miniature parks however, are primarily concerned with the display of exhibits in their own right, viewed from a distance. Model railways, rivers and roads may provide a continuation between miniature parks exhibits.

[edit] Other forms of miniature exhibitions

Some exhibitions are displayed indoors. The most common forms are model railroads and dollhouses.

[edit] List of miniature parks

1:25 scale replica of St Peter's Basilica in Tobu World Square, Japan
1:25 scale replica of St Peter's Basilica in Tobu World Square, Japan
1:25 replica of Michalska Gate (Bratislava) in Miniuni, Ostrava
1:25 replica of Michalska Gate (Bratislava) in Miniuni, Ostrava

[edit] United Kingdom

[edit] United States

[edit] See also

[edit] References