Industrial Spaces That Were Transformed Into Iconic Clubs

Amidst the top-tier clubs and rave spaces that have been established in the last few decades for electronic dance music gigs, there exist many renowned clubs that were once abandoned and have come to be the most sought-after venues. We look at a few such iconic venues and their origin story –

The Haçienda

Manchester’s popular acid house, house and rave club The Haçienda was the place to be in the mid to late 1980s. It was once a yacht builder’s shop and warehouse and was then transformed into a club. The club is well known for its dance music gigs as well as its rock, indie, post-punk, electro and funk shows. However, The Haçienda shuttered in 1997 as it incurred major financial losses due to low sales of alcohol when attendees turned to drugs. DJs like Sasha, rock band Oasis, electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers, and rock outfit The Smiths have performed at the superclub. It was at The Haçienda that Madonna performed for the first time outside the USA. The Haçienda Apartments now stand where the club once stood.

Printworks

A list like this is incomplete without one of the most epic clubs, which has etched its name on the map of electronic dance music. The 6000-capacity venue has hosted over 750,000 partygoers until its closure in May 2023. Printworks London gets its name from the building’s previous role as a printing factory. It used to be Western Europe’s biggest printing factory. The club, which took its place, also retained some of the factory’s industrial elements, including machines, metal stairs, and more. The post-industrial club has welcomed some of the biggest names in dance music to rattle the massive venue with their earth-shattering sets.

“I feel honoured to have hosted several KNTXT nights in such an iconic venue. It really was one of my favourite spaces in the world; the sound, the vibe, the people front and backstage. Just truly iconic. It’s amazing to have been a part of their story and I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for the team,” said Charlotte de Witte. Peggy Gou, BICEP, Andy C, Sub Focus, Camelphat, Black Coffee, Honey Dijon, ARTBAT, and the Hospitality Crew have dished out hair-raising sets, along with many major dance music acts, who have moved with the attendees at Printworks London. The Guardian reported that the club “may reopen by 2026 after developers submit plans” in 2024.

Berghain

Berlin’s Berghain is another big name when it comes to clubs and raves. Just like Printworks, the club retains parts of its origins as an abandoned power plant. Berghain held onto the architecture of the industrial space as well as its concrete. Notorious for its strict door policy, it is a widely known techno club and a queer-friendly space. German techno act Ben Klock, Ben UFO, Boris, Âme, Jennifer Cardini, The Blessed Madonna, Mano Le Tough, Adam Beyer, Carl Craig, Lauer, Octo Octa, Zombies in Miami, Eris Drew, Joy Orbison, Anetha and more have taken over the iconic venue over the years. Berghain officially opened its doors in 2004 and is still hosting events today.

Tresor Berlin

Best known as Berlin’s first techno club, Tresor laid the foundation for techno music in Berlin. It came into existence in 1991 from a vault of the former Wertheim department store near the Berlin Wall. It closed in 2005 and moved to a multi-story building on Köpenicker Street in a former power plant in 2007. The industrial complex has three spaces for clubbers. Large concrete halls, a bar, and the Tresor Room in the basement now make up the iconic club. British-Canadian Richie Hawtin, best known for his techno and minimal techno, has played at Tresor alongside influential artists such as American techno maestro Jeff Mills, Detroit techno artist Blake Baxter, and more.

De School, Amsterdam

Techno, house and experimental music resounded at De School – one of the world-class clubs and cultural venues in Amsterdam. A technical school was turned into this space that gained international recognition. Along with the club, the massive space also housed exhibition areas, a cafe, a gym, a concert venue, and a restaurant. Equipped with a supreme sound system, it was a playground for live electronic music aficionados. However, the 700-capacity club closed its doors in 2024.

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