Inside the former European airport that is now a huge nightclub
A MAJOR European airport is now home to a huge nightclub and plays host to festivals rather than flights.
A disused travel hub might not seem like an obvious place to go for a night out, but one in Berlin has been described as one of the best things for people to do in the world next year.
The now defunct Tegel Airport has been transformed into Turbulence TXL – the airport’s former IATA code.
Party-goers can make use of the airport’s canteen, which has now been repurposed as an event space, which celebrated its launch with the “lift-off” rave earlier this year.
Time Out listed the space at 13th in their 24 best things to do in the world in 2024, saying big things were being planned at the former airport.
They wrote: “The building, famous for its striking brutalist architecture, can host up to 700 people.
“According to the nightclub’s Instagram, the space is ‘planning big things for the open air season next year’. Grab your grungiest, stompiest dancing shoes.”
The lift-off rave was described as a “little festival with live music, DJ sets, workshops, art, performance and a big rave in the evening”.
It also hosted a bazaar, table tennis tables and food for party-goers.
Berlin-based DJ Estella Boersma was among those performing on the opening night and she shared footage to her Tiktok account (@estellaboersma) from the party.
Prior to that, the airport also housed the sound art festival, Sonambiente Berlin TXL in terminals A and B.
As well as raves and DJs, the space is expected to host other events, including food markets, art installations and outdoor summer parties.
The airport club is currently taking a winter break, but issued an update after its opening night, saying it was the “start of something really beautiful”.
They wrote: “A lot of you have been asking about future events so here’s a little update.
“We are currently evaluating our first months and planning big things for the open air season next year.
“We can’t say much but we are super excited about everything that’s coming!
“Thanks for the amazing feedback so far and thanks to everyone who was involved in the past months. This is the beginning of something really beautiful.”
The space is managed by creative collection Turbulence Berlin, whose goal is to “bring people together through art, music and workshops at the old cargo canteen of the former Tegel airport”.
The airport was decommissioned in 2021, after its final flight departed in November 2020.
Prior to that, it had been the fourth busiest airport in Germany, with with more than 24 million passengers passing through in 2019.
While the canteen area will remain a club and event space, the rest of the airport is due to be redeveloped.
It is expected to be transformed into a new city quarter dedicated to scientific and industrial research, named Urban Tech Republic.
It will retain the airport’s main building and tower as a repurposed landmark.
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