Berghain (pronounced the same) is a nightclub in Berlin, Germany. Its name comes from its location near the border between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain . Founded in 2004 by friends Norbert Thormann and Michael Teufele, it has since become one of the most famous clubs in the world and has been called the world capital of techno.
Berghain has its roots in 1990s Berlin, starting with crazy techno and fetish parties at the Reichsbahnbunker, evolving into the influential gay club Ostgut in 1998. After Ostgut closed in 2003, its founders opened Berghain in 2004.
The original building was a former power plant with roots in post-Stalinist German industrial architecture after World War II. It was built in East Germany and the architectural style was known as industrial brutalism, typical of the socialist era: large concrete walls, massive spaces and functionality over decorative aesthetics. This has given Berghain its slightly eerie atmosphere, which contributes to its mysterious and exclusive reputation.
Inside, Berghain features a main floor focused on techno music, an upper floor called Panorama Bar, geared towards house music, and an underground floor called Lab.oratory, which is a men-only sex club described by Rolling Stone as Berlin's most extreme. The upper floors are also said to have specific areas called dark rooms, dedicated to sexual activities.
Berghain is known for its long weekend hours, with the party starting on Saturday night and ending on Monday lunchtime. This happens every week. The queues to get in can last for hours and sometimes days. The club is also known for its strict and highly selective policy on who can enter. Sven Marquardt has been the main doorman who has been doing this selection of people since 1998, when the club was called Ostgut.
People who have had the chance to get inside give their versions of the chances of getting in: you should dress in black, a little strange, but without trying too hard. You should not go in large groups of people, especially if you are all men. Being accompanied by a woman is an advantage. You should not talk too much, and if you do, it is better to do it in German.
The club's door policy is known for its strictness, generating frequent debate and speculation. The club's security guards have also been accused of racism. However, head security guard Sven Marquardt, who is also a photographer, insists that the selection of people by him and his team is entirely subjective, oriented towards the energy that the person who will enter the club gives off. Tickets cost around 25 euros, phones and filming are prohibited and the rule "what happens in Berghain, stays in Berghain" is ironclad.
Many people describe the experience as "life-changing," but beyond that, there are no specific details of what happens inside.
The Berghain controversy
Berghain has been embroiled in controversy over drug-related incidents, including overdoses and safety concerns, as well as political criticism related to its drug culture and atmosphere.
However, Berghain has consistently been ranked among the best clubs in the world in DJ Magazine's Top 100 list since 2008, reaching number one in 2009, and has been nominated for Best Global Club by the International Dance Music Awards. It is frequently mentioned in music, television, film, and popular media.
In 2016, a German court officially designated Berghain a cultural institution, which allows the club to pay a reduced tax rate.
No photos are allowed inside the club, and patrons must cover their smartphone cameras with a sticker. This policy was maintained in 2020 when the club was temporarily transformed into an art space for the "Studio Berlin" exhibition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the club's restrooms are mirror-free, so that club guests are spared the "terrible humiliation of seeing their faces after an epic party session."4
Controversies and criticisms
Berghain has, time and again, been the focal point of controversy surrounding drug use at the club and the health emergencies that result from it.
A 30-year-old American woman died in June 2017, shortly after leaving Berghain, after taking ecstasy she had allegedly purchased inside the club. While visiting Berlin, she, her husband, and their Dutch friend decided to visit the club late one night. After the effects of the pills began to kick in, with the woman showing signs of medical distress, foaming at the mouth and passing out, another person in the club, along with club staff, allegedly delayed calling for medical services, under the impression that the effects would wear off. After about another fifteen minutes, an ambulance was called and she was rushed to hospital; however, she died shortly after arrival. A toxicology report revealed that the woman had overdosed on MDMA.
This incident sparked extensive discussions within the German media about safety protocols related to drug use in Berlin's nightlife, including calls for the implementation of on-site drug control services and reinforced emergency procedures.
In 2019, there were unconfirmed reports of three individuals dying in a single night at Berghain after consuming pills marketed as ecstasy. Additionally, in 2022, needlestick incidents were encountered by clubbers at Berghain, where individuals were injected with unidentified drugs without their consent. Although these incidents have not been officially verified, they have helped fuel ongoing discussions regarding drug safety in nightclub settings.
The club's official recognition by German courts as a cultural institution has raised additional concerns about state accountability and responsibility for public health and safety.
In addition to drug scandals, Berghain has also had political scandals. In 2018, politician Sibylle Schmidt called for the club to be closed. Her reasoning followed the general rhetoric of the far-right AfD, alleging rampant drug use and an atmosphere of excessive sexualization. The request was publicly mocked and not seriously considered.
Berghain may be exclusive because it's good for its marketing, it may have this mystery surrounding it, so that more people try to get in. One can talk about its walls and architecture, but one cannot describe the smell of sweat, the beat of techno music or explain the feeling of comfort that this environment seems to offer people. Berghain is a building that was born in a time of repression and authority, and today the rules remain to "protect" the place beyond definition.
