Have you ever wanted to chase that cloud you see from your office window? Nuvala is inspired by this question and makes it possible. C41 Magazine interviewed the founders, Davide Ventura and Mariano Lerro to delve deep into the concept behind a 360-degree experience that allows one to escape urban life and relieve stress. The Murgia area, where Nuvala is set, is the land that Lerro and Ventura have always been surrounded by since childhood, the perfect setting for a workation, a new way of understanding the daily routine. Why stay in the office when you can do the same things from a much more unique place? This is what Nuvala is about: approaching slowness and beauty. The 2024 edition is taking place at an air station in the Murgia region in Puglia, Italy on July 19-20.

Giulia Cuzzolin: How would you define your relationship with nature and land?

Davide Ventura and Mariano Lerro: When we think of nature and land, we immediately think of our native lands. We were both born in the area called “Alta Murgia”, which is inland but still close to the sea. We both share a love for the places where we grew up and experience them as sacred places that have remained unchanged over time, untouched, and with a strong connection to the past and its origins. It is an entirely contemplative relationship; with our events, we illuminate the history of the place with small injections of the contemporary. The relationship with nature will save us all.

GC: Describe your work in five words.

DV and ML: First of all, “life”: our project began to take us back to life itself, which is not only work and routine but is also passion, music, art, and above all, nature. “Community”, because Nuvala is the involvement of many people and players connecting with each other in a network. “Passion” is definitely another word, a pillar of Nuvala as it is increasingly becoming a job where the main driver is passion, the greatest form of fulfillment to us. “Light”, as we unite people enlighten people through the places we create, and last but not least “friendship”, which is where our work relationship lies. Also, it’s very important to the strong friendship created with all the people who help and collaborate with us to make Nuvala possible!

GC: What kind of relationship do you wish your public to have during your events?

DV and ML: It’s always good to see interaction between people, that’s what we try to do with Nuvala. The pre-established groups of people open up to connect with what is going on and create new relationships and connections, for us that has always been the winning element! On the other hand, it is great to see interaction between people and the installations we create, to see children fall in love with simple things like hay bales and the lights they reflect. The strong union that is created between those who participate, those who run the market and the various activities differentiates us from other events and makes us unique.”

GC: How much did the pandemic contribute to the ideation of Nuvala and its beginning?

DV and ML: The pandemic and the various lockdowns certainly moved us to pursue an existing idea to create something new. We developed a platform at that time, which will soon be operational and will allow remote work in contact with nature and away from the city environment. When the lockdowns ended, we rediscovered the beauty of natural places and we felt lucky to have been surrounded by them since childhood. For this reason, we felt the need to create something just 5 km away from home.

GC: What do you think is the key to having a happy work life?

DV and ML: Trying not to think about work and recognising your limits of work stress is key. Once the day is over, it is important to detach our heads and think about what really brings us peace and well-being. Taking your mind off work benefits the work itself! When we started working on Nuvala, after work days or on weekends, it allowed us to be more focused, relaxed, and most importantly, more passionate about the work we have outside of Nuvala. Nuvala allows us to get away from our work and can help everyone to have relationships and outings in nature that are so important! It is important to live by surrounding ourselves with passion, and with our project, we cross-work with life itself.

Nuvala is a cultural association e.t.s , founded by Mariano Lerro and Davide Ventura.
The association promotes activities related to art, music and music and local cultures to stimulate the development of territories and their uniqueness. They are working towards the construction of a hosting platform for workation and experiences that encourages remote working, networking and proximity tourism.