MMA Club

The club, which is usually only referred to as MMA, was located in a former 1930s power plant in the center of the Bavarian state capital, similar to the former nightclub KW – Das Heizkraftwerk (1996–2003) in the same city and the Berghain in Berlin. The central cogeneration plant at Katharina-von-Bora-Straße was built from 1933 to 1937 as a part of the central of the so-called "Parteiviertel" (party headquarters) of the NSDAP and supplied the former Führerbau, which today houses the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich, by a network of underground passages.[2][3][4] After the war, the Bavarian ministry of finance inherited all Nazi Party buildings, sellling the central to the Munich City Utilities company.[5] From 2006 on the power plant stood empty, until it was thoroughly gutted in 2013, where more than 300 tons of steel had to be removed solely from the main hall.[6] The opening of the club in March 2014 received wide media attention, and national newspapers and magazines such as Focus,[7] Süddeutsche Zeitung[8] or Bild[9] covered the event. The plant's main boiler hall, described by news magazine Focus as "impressive cathedral of energy", provides the club's main dance floor with 21 meters high walls and measures 460 square meters and 10,000 cubic meters.[7][10] The venue also housed a smaller "club within the club" in the basement of the car pool hall as an antipole to the main hall, a 10 meters high project room for audiovisual art, as well as several galleries with another 250 square meters floor space, giving the whole club a labyrinth-like impression.[11] The majority of the establishment is located 10 meters underground. Techno artists appreciated the monumental building for its rough, old, and dark atmosphere.[2][12] Magazines and travel guides often compare the industrial architectural style of the MMA to Berlin's legendary Tresor club or the Berghain.[13][14]

MMA almost exclusively featured internationally known DJs and live acts, such as Richie Hawtin, Adam Beyer, Ben Sims, Anthony Rother, Terence Fixmer, Len Faki, Ben Klock, Marcel Dettmann, Nina Kraviz, Amelie Lens, Maceo Plex, Johannes Heil, Extrawelt, I Hate Models, Charlotte de Witte, Gregor Tresher and Alan Fitzpatrick, among many others.[13][25][26] Residents of MMA included Javier Bähr, Svar, Paul and The Hungry Wolf, Essika and Marcella.[2] Because of the similar lineup, it was often labeled as "the Berghain of the south."[27][28][29] Club nights there lasted at least until 10 am in the morning, but could also last 48 hours at a stretch.[13][30]

Mixed Munich Arts was not only a techno club, but in accordance with the given name also intended as a space that brings electronic music and avant-garde art together. The owners described this as follows: "string quartets meet graffiti, photo vernissages meet interactive performances, video artists meet techno DJs.[7][8] In this spirit, MMA also regularly hosted cultural events beyond the techno nights like theatrical performances,[3] concerts, art exhibitions,[31] graffiti exhibitions and street food markets,[10][32] or Christmas markets for hip-hop fans.[33]

MMA and its events were regularly covered by the media and tourist guides. The club was ranked among the best clubs in Germany,[1] as well as among the best clubs in the world.[39] Resident Advisor ranked it as one of Munich's top clubs (third place as of August 2017).[40] The techno club has been described by The Guardian as a "towering techno temple that rivals any in Berlin".[41] At the Munich Nightlife Awards the club was awarded first place in the "music" category and second place in the "booking" category in 2016,[42][43] and defended this position the following year.[44][45]

• Media related to MMA Club at Wikimedia Commons
• List of electronic dance music venues

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MMA Club.

• Official website (in German)
• Mixmag feature on MMA (2019)
• Black Lotus at MMA (YouTube)
• Online petition "#SaveMMA"