Nature's Role in the Experience of Digital Nomads

The Town of Bansko as a Case Study

Abstract

This article presents the results of a series of field studies on digital nomadism in Bansko—a resort town that has been an established meeting point for digital nomads from all over the world for a decade. This form of mobile lifestyle is characterized by the frequent and repeated crossing of national borders by mobile individuals (digital nomads), who stay for varying lengths of time in different countries and do not return permanently to their home country According to them, Bansko is unique because it offers natural resources, infrastructure that enables remote work, and a community of like-minded people. What prompts these individuals to settle for extended periods in a small town like Bansko, and why is it crucial for them to be close to nature (to create and work undisturbed, away from the overstimulation typical of big cities; to raise their children in a peaceful environment, etc.)? What are the dimensions of nature within the urban environment (playing in yards and mountain streams flowing along the streets; organizing community-building outdoor events; incorporating natural materials into the interior and exterior of spaces inhabited by digital nomads, etc.)?

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