Park of Chocolate: Design Ideas for a Historical Village Park at a Chocolate Factory

Abstract

Ivanka pri Nitre is a small rural municipality situated close to the regional capital city Nitra in western Slovakia. The core of its green infrastructure consists in a historical park located in the centre of the village. In recent years, a chocolate factory was built in the northeastern part of the park and the factory alongside with the municipality aim at redesigning the park to meet the needs of users and visitors. The Institute of Landscape Architecture integrated this assignment in the Public Green Space Design Studio to develop design ideas in a research-led teaching process, using research by design. The studio generated seven different design scenarios that vary in philosophy and design morphology -´the Park of Happiness and Joy´, ´The Path to Chocolate´, ´Green Island´, ´Colourful Park´, ´Park of Senses´, ´Park of Chocolate´, and ´Park of Fantasy´. All scenarios work in different forms and ways with the theme of chocolate and aim at enhancing the open space quality through colours, plants, programme, equipment, and furniture. Representatives of both the municipality and the factory were involved in the design process. Now they are seeking opportunities and schemes to implement the outcomes of the process.