Miniature park

Part of the one-ninth scale model of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, England
Cockington Green, miniature village in Canberra, Australia

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.

History

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.

Variations on a theme

"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 1:76 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.

PIPKA There has been a move away from the "model village" concept since the mid- to 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.

Other forms of miniature exhibitions

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

List of miniature parks

1:25 replica of Michalska Gate (Bratislava) in Miniuni, Ostrava
Replica of the Hillbrow Tower at the Santarama Miniland, Johannesburg, South Africa
Kowary, Lower Silesia Monuments miniature Park

Europe

Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

Boheminium Park Mariánské Lázně

Denmark

France

Germany

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Madurodam

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Russia

Slovakia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

Ukraine

United Kingdom

An overview of the Babbacombe Model Village
The Former Model Village at the Eastbourne Redoubt

North America

Canada

Mexico

United States

Archetypal replica of a German village at the Germany (Epcot) Pavilion in Disney World

.

Asia/Pacific Region

Australia

Indonesia

Japan

1:25 scale replica of St Peter's Basilica in Tobu World Square, Japan

South Korea

Malaysia

Myanmar

Taiwan

Thailand

China

South Africa

South America

Middle East

Iran

United Arab Emirates

Israel

References

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  2. Klein-Erzgebirge
  3. "Lichtenstein - Mit über 100 weltbekannten Miniatur-Bauwerken im Maßstab 1:25 auf 4,5 Hektar Fläche ein touristischer Ausflug für die ganze Familie.". miniwelt.de.
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  5. "Italia in Miniatura". italiainminiatura.com.
  6. http://www.minitalia.com/it/home/
  7. Super User. "www.sardegnainminiatura.it - Home". sardegnainminiatura.it.
  8. http://uk.lilleputthammer.no/index.php
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  14. "Tourist Attraction / Activities in Blackpool - Blackpool Model Village". blackpoolmodelvillage.com.
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  16. 1 2 http://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-to-do/godshill-model-village-p137341
  17. "Model Village in Great Yarmouth. Merrivale Model Village Norfolk, England". greatyarmouthmodelvillage.co.uk.
  18. "Babbacombe Model Village". babbacombemodelvillage.co.uk.
  19. "miniaturapark.co.uk". miniaturapark.co.uk.
  20. http://www.ruskinmuseum.com/usher.htm
  21. "Lakeland Miniature Village attraction in the English Lake District". lakelandminiaturevillage.com.
  22. "Corfe Castle Model Village, Gardens & Cafe. Home Page.". corfecastlemodelvillage.co.uk.
  23. http://www.portsmouth-guide.co.uk/local/modelvil.htm
  24. "Southport Model Railway Village". southportmodelrailwayvillage.co.uk.
  25. http://www.enjoyengland.com/attractions/find-attraction/ProductDetail.aspx?Pid=125109
  26. http://www.wlct.org/Leisure/Haigh/Park.htm
  27. http://www.skegnessuk.com/att_detail.php?id=313&cid=565&f=Skegness
  28. "Wistow.com - Model Village". wistow.com.
  29. http://www.bekonscot.com/ramsgate/
  30. http://www.whitstablepier.com/mv/Hastings/index.html
  31. http://www.whitstablepier.com/mv/Eastbourne/index.html
  32. http://www.whitstablepier.com/mv/Wannock/index.html
  33. http://www.ironhorsepark.net
  34. http://www.discovermexico.org
  35. "Cockington Green Gardens". cockingtongreen.com.au.
  36. "Tudor Miniature Village Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne". funtours.com.au.
  37. "Model Dutch Village, Clog Barn, Coffs Harbour, NSW". clogbarn.com.au.
  38. "TOBU WORLD SQUARE". tobuws.co.jp.
  39. "National Races Village". myanmars.net.
  40. http://www.woc.com.tw
  41. "Beijing World Park". kinabaloo.com.
  42. http://minimundo.com.br/minimundo/index.htm
  43. http://www.mini-israel.co.il/home_en.html
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