BeLong: working remotely, connecting with nature, belonging to a community

In the post-Covid years, remote work has transformed the way we live — opening up new opportunities for workers while, at the same time, weakening the bonds with places and communities.

From this awareness, BeLong was born: a project that explores new ways of living and working, redefining the relationship between people and their territories.

Awarded as one of the winning business ideas at the EIT Community Ignite NEB – DS4Planet Festival, BeLong has evolved into a concrete service format thanks to the strategic and design support of Studio SHIFT, which guided its journey from concept to real-world testing.

What is BeLong

BeLong is a service that blends remote working, sustainable tourism, and corporate welfare. Its goal is to offer workers the opportunity to spend periods of work immersed in nature — in small villages and mountain areas — while fostering the revitalization of local communities.

Ideally integrated into corporate welfare platforms, BeLong creates a virtuous network connecting different stakeholders:

• For workers: a chance to experience a slower, more mindful, and fulfilling lifestyle — in contact with nature and local communities.
  
• For local communities: an opportunity to reactivate vacant or underused spaces while supporting local economies.
  
• For companies: a welfare tool that promotes employee well-being and strengthens corporate reputation through ethical, sustainable practices.
  
• For mountain territories: a path toward lasting growth, attracting temporary residents and promoting responsible tourism.

As its name suggests, BeLong means to belong — to a place, and to a community that welcomes, shares, and grows together with those who inhabit it.

The first test: living and working in Chiuro

In July 2025, BeLong took an important step forward with its first field experiment. A remote worker spent two weeks in Chiuro, a small town in the Valtellina valley, alternating ten working days with local life experiences.

The pilot confirmed the project’s potential: contact with nature encouraged calm and focus, the quiet environment improved well-being, and local activities were appreciated as authentic alternatives to urban nightlife.

Some improvement areas also emerged — such as the need for more comfortable workspaces, a wider local “buddy” network, and more opportunities for social engagement and volunteering.

These insights were embraced by the team as valuable feedback to refine and evolve the service.

Co-designing with the community

In September 2025, BeLong returned to Valtellina for a new co-design phase.
Two workshops — one in Sondrio, involving institutions and territorial organizations, and one in Chiuro, engaging citizens and local stakeholders — brought together over 20 participants, including administrators, tourism operators, associations, and residents.

The goal? To listen to the real needs of the territory and co-create a model of hospitality that is inclusive, regenerative, and sustainable.

From these discussions emerged concrete ideas and collaborations to enhance the guest worker experience, improve logistics, and build stronger connections between those who arrive and those who choose to stay.

A step toward new ways of living

BeLong is much more than a remote work project: it represents a new approach to life and work, restoring value to relationships and territories. It promotes slow tourism, personal well-being, and community development — perfectly aligned with the New European Bauhaus principles and with Studio SHIFT’s mission: to foster change through participatory design, regenerating communities that are more inclusive, sustainable, and joyful.

The initiative demonstrates how design can serve as a tool for social transformation, capable of creating tangible impact. Because the future of living and working is already here — and it’s built by people who choose to belong.