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Berlin is transforming its historic buildings into brand new nightclubs

From a former chemical weapons lab to an abandoned airport canteen, these are the city’s new party spots

Liv Kelly
Written by
Liv Kelly
Contributing Writer
Spandau Citadel Berlin
Photograph: Shutterstock
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Berlin is well-known for its cracking selection of nightclubs. From that teeny-tiny venue inside a telephone booth to the pulsing techno monster that is Berghain, the city knows what it’s doing when it comes to nightlife. 

And two more nightclubs are about to be added to the list. But the most exciting part? They’re both part of major revitalisations to some of the city’s historic buildings. 

First up, it’s an all-new venue in the abandoned Tegel Airport. The airport is remembered for its striking brutalist architecture, and much of the building has already been transformed by sustainable initiatives. And now Turbulence, a collective of six creative individuals, were given the go-ahead to transform the old TXL canteen into an accessible cultural venue for live music, visual installations and performance art. 

The collective’s main mission is inclusivity when it comes to clubbing, with plans to make their new venue free of barriers for hearing- and vision-impaired attendees. Pretty cool, right?

The other exciting new venture is courtesy of André Krüger, who is something of an esteemed figure in Berlin’s nightlife scene. Krüger is part of Channel Music, a group responsible for Berlin spots like Metropol and Quasimodo. 

His newest project? The brand-new Zita Club in the historic Spandau Citadel. The Citadel was built in 1197, and over the years was used as a military fortress, a German Imperial War Treasury and even a chemical weapons lab for the Nazis. Since 1948, the space has been host to events and exhibitions – and now, attendees are free to dance the night away under its gorgeous lofted archways.

The club was launched with an eclectic Friday the 13th Ibiza-inspired launch last week.  

More Berlin nightlife

Berliners love to party – we know that. Earlier this year, we covered the city’s scheme to pay young people to go clubbing, and last month, the announcement of 500 new cultural spaces across Berlin. Plus, we’ve got guides to Berlin’s best clubs, bars and the ultimate weekend itinerary.

Did you see that these are the best budget-friendly European cities to visit this winter?

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