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NUANU CREATIVE CITY

Bali's Newest Development Proposes A Future Utopia

January, 2025

It’s hard what to make of Bali’s increasing tourism and over-development. The city’s lush green landscapes and mesmerising rice terraces now make way for luxurious new villas. The affordable real estate, construction materials and labour allow for any architectural dream to come to fruition. Yet one Russian developer is aiming to create a 44-hectare art-led utopia based on social values that contributes back to Bali’s cultural landscape.

Luna Beach Club, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative

Nuanu Creative City is a new 44-hectare experiential park that aims to create a model for sustainable living through innovative spaces and creative community.

Located in Beraban within the Tabanan Regency, the property sits along two key landmarks — Nyanyi Beach and Tanah Lot Temple — positioned along Bali’s coast. Perched high on a corner cliffside, the site receives stunning sunset views complementing the year-round warm evening breeze. Where the property now stands, it’s hard to imagine it from a few years ago as a mix of baron land, rice fields and jungle that now sees 32 diverse on-site spaces including a hotel, beach club, art gallery and alpaca farm — just to name a few.

Nuanu, meaning ‘in the process’ in the Balinese language, is constantly in development despite its initial opening a few years ago. Currently comprised of 32 active projects, each crossing leisure and hospitality to education, founder Sergey Solonin’s vision for the facility is bold and optimistic as an ever-evolving ‘experiential park’. The Russian tech businessman finds inspiration to build a future utopia with like-minded partners aiming to create change through sustainability and innovation in the world. Leading with art and technology, Nuanu Creative City’s offering extends to education, social impact, biodiversity and culture with spaces accommodating art residencies, yoga and meditation studios, sound-healing spaces, cultural events, on-site glass blowing and community-led weaving workshops. Many of the on-site buildings refer to forms inspired by codes found in nature, such as the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden ratio.

Oshom Bali, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative
Oshom Bali, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative
Oshom Bali, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative

The Luna Beach Club, an expansive facility that includes the THK Tower (Tri Hita Karana Tower) designed by architect Arthur Mamou-Mani with curation by DELIVERED., as well as a larger-than-life sculpture by Alexander Milov. The Luna Beach Club also includes a large, striking bamboo structure housing a central restaurant and bar. Designed with rammed earth and bamboo, the awe-inspiring building was created by Charlie Hearn, founder and Director of Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios. Contemporary boutique hotel Oshom Bali features two outdoor bamboo pavilions by Pablo Luna Designs and a series of luxury treehouses perched upon existing mangroves. Lumeira, an impressive carbon-zero spa and wellness facility led by co-owners James Larkin and Jasper Sceats, is run on renewable energy with a pyrolysis stove connecting the wood-fired sauna to the nearby pools as a natural heating source. Labyrinth, a unique centre by Labyrinth Collective ‘where art, technology and innovation coexist in perfect harmony’, features Indonesia’s first immersive dome experience within a 21-metre-wide surround-sound and surround-projection room.

Dome, Labyrinth Collective, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative
Lumeira, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative

An intended intersection of nature, art and tradition also exists at Nuanu. A recently-opened facility dubbed the Magic Garden, aims to increase local biodiversity through a butterfly and orchids breeding program led by a team of specialists. Nuanu also currently protects and preserves 11 exisiting temples on the property, whilst one of the key jungle areas was transformed into an AI-led art space known as Aurora Media Park, is complemented by interspersed digital art installations.

Led by ‘fostering positive collaboration’, Solonin tells us the careful approach of ‘balancing innovation with respect for Bali’s cultural and natural heritage.’ He explains, ‘Preserving the landscape, including mangroves, forests, and ecosystems, has required thoughtful planning and close collaboration with local communities and environmental experts. At the same time, we’ve worked hard to stay true to Nuanu’s core values while addressing the expectations of diverse stakeholders—artists, residents, and global visitors. These challenges are shaping and strengthening our vision, making Nuanu’s journey even more meaningful.’

Aurora Media Park, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative
Magic Garden, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative
Magic Garden, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative

What makes Nuanu’s development different is their approach. Solonin has personally promised to preserved 70% of site’s natural land, whilst each of Nuanu’s on-site ‘projects’ are managed by an independent partner that meets their commitment to a local Social Fund. The requirement is a contribution of 5% from each business’ monthly revenue to the Nuanu Social Fund program. The fund is overseen by a group of selected Bali-based individuals to its distribution — such as Reforestation initiatives to a ‘Bali Changemakers Project’.

Looking head, they aim to introduce new Ecoverse Luxury Villas comprised of 16 townhouses and 34 apartments, in addition to a contemporary art museum focussed on the work of Japanese artist Eugene Kangawa and aiming to ‘become a fully electric-powered creative city by 2027 as part of its mission to align with Bali’s Net Zero Emission goal by 2045.’

For the ever-evolving space helmed by Solonin, how does he imagine Nuanu’s masterplan and facilities as a blueprint for future generations, including his children? He adds, ‘For me, Nuanu is an opportunity to show that creating something meaningful can go hand in hand with building a successful and forward-thinking venture. I want my children to see the value in pursuing progress that respects both nature and culture and to understand that creativity and collaboration are just as important as financial success. Nuanu is about finding that balance—between innovation and responsibility, between growth and care. I hope it inspires my children to think critically, work collaboratively, and appreciate the idea that success is measured not just by profit, but by the positive impact we leave behind.’

Labyrinth Residences, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative
Labyrinth Residences, NUANU CREATIVE CITY, Bali | Photo: Champ Creative

NUANU CREATIVE CITY
93CX+6C, Beraban, Kediri,
Tabanan Regency, Bali 82121,
Indonesia

For more creative destinations in Bali, click here.

January, 2025