The fictional municipality of “Zwirgberg” as a model for spatial planning in rural Rhineland-Palatinate

Abstract

Rural regions in Germany face significant structural transformations due to climate change, demographic shifts, digitalization, and mobility transitions. The research project “Kommune 2050” addresses the challenge of limited strategic planning capacities in rural municipalities by developing a transferable model framework. Using the fictional collective municipality “Zwirgberg,” based on existing municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate, the project integrates GIS analyses, modular synthesis, and participatory scenario development. Zwirgberg functions as a digital experimental space that combines real data with creative projections. The result is a planning tool that allows municipalities to explore future development paths and translate abstract challenges into spatial strategies. This methodological approach offers an innovative and replicable model for strategic spatial planning in rural areas.