Natraj Temple
 The former power plant in which the Natraj Temple was located | |
 | |
| Address | Grafinger Str. 6, Kunstpark Ost |
|---|---|
| Location | Berg am Laim,Munich,Germany |
| Coordinates | 48°7′24.2″N11°36′31.1″E/ 48.123389°N 11.608639°E |
| Type | Nightclub |
| Genre(s) | Psytrance |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1970s |
| Opened | October 1996 |
| Closed | 2008 |
| Website | |
| Natraj Temple | |
Natraj Temple[natˈrɑːʒˈtem.pəl] was anightclubinMunich,Germany from 1996 to 2008.[1]Germany's first steadypsytrancenightclub belonged, besides theTresorandE-Werkin Berlin, theDorian GrayandOmenin Frankfurt, and the Munich-based clubsUltraschall,KW – Das HeizkraftwerkandMillennium,to the most renowned clubs of Germany's 1990stechno culture,[2]and was considered an international centre of the Goa trance movement.[3]
History and description
[edit]Significance
[edit]The significance of the Natraj Temple for the rave culture is due to the fact that it was one of only a few clubs that specialized completely in a single subgenre, in this casepsytrance.In the Goa and psytrance scene, decorations based on Hindu, Buddhist or shamanic motifs and symbols as well as spirituality and often excessive intoxication play an important role. Accordingly, the media coverage about the nightclub mostly focused on the psychedelic design of the venue, the elaborate art installations and the alternative scene clientele. ThusDer Spiegeldescribed the Natraj Temple as a place "where many colourful cloths decorate the high walls and long-haired people can smoke their joint under purple light and listening to Indian music".[4]TheSüddeutsche Zeitungdescribed the interior of the club as "ghost train ambience, fluorescent cobwebs, an Indian, four-armed goddess is rotating in the semi-darkness", and reported about women sitting cross-legged, visitors who talked for hours with the decoration of the club, and about "Goa freaks who left the Natraj Temple half-naked and barefoot in the deepest winter, wallowing in the snow and then calling for an ambulance".[5]Also travel guides and cultural guidebooks reported, besides the musical specialization on psytrance, mostly about the artistic design of the nightclub.[6][7][8]TheKulturverführer Münchenreported about a dragon above the dance floor, "cuddly cushions in mysterious niches" and an intense palette of colours in the decoration.[6]Due to these special features the psytrance club made a name for itself also outside the scene throughout Europe.[9]
Program and festivals
[edit]The musical program of the club concentrated on electronic music of the styles psychedelic trance and Goa trance.[10][6]Often international DJ's and live acts of the psytrance scene played at the Natraj Temple.[11]Regular events at the club carried names likePsychedelic TranceandSpecial Experience.[12]The Natraj Temple regularly presented his ownlovemobilesat Munich'stechnoparadeUnion Moveand was known for the elaborate and psychedelic design of thefloats.The club also organized open air festivals under the nameNatraj Summer Dance.[11]
Location
[edit]The club was located on the grounds of the Kunstpark Ost factory site in Munich'sBerg am Laimdistrict in a disused former power plant.[9]It consisted of a main area with a wooden dance floor, which was surrounded one floor above by a large gallery with the so-calledchill-outarea, and an adjoining bar room with a kiosk where exotic spices were sold in addition to drinks.[10]In 2003 the Natraj Temple moved into the rooms of the former clubK41,[13]and in 2007 once again into the rooms of the formerOctagonclub.[14]
Compilation albums
[edit]The club regularly releasedcompilation albumswith names likeNatraj Summer DanceorWinterdance.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Thillmann, Paulina (29 November 2017)."Deutschlandkarte: Legendäre Clubs"[Germany map: legendary clubs].Zeitmagazin.Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^Hitzler, Ronald; Pfadenhauer, Michaela; Hillebrandt, Frank; Kneer, Georg; Kraemer, Klaus (1998). "A posttraditional society: Integration and distinction within the techno scene".Loss of safety? Lifestyles between multi-optionality and scarcity(in German). p. 85.doi:10.1007/978-3-322-83316-7.ISBN978-3-531-13228-0.
- ^"Country: Germany".Mushroom Magazine. 1 May 2013.Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^Brinkbäumer, Klaus (22 February 1999)."Jugendszene: Kunst statt Knödel"[Youth scene: art instead of dumplings].Der Spiegel.Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^Weigend, David (11 May 2010)."Techno in München: Totgesagte raven länger"[Techno in Munich: The dead rave longer].Süddeutsche Zeitung.Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^abcHosfeld, Rolf;Götz, Veruschka; Kotteder, Franz (August 2005).Kulturverführer München[Cultural seducer Munich] (2 ed.). Hamburg: Helmut Metz Verlag. p. 88.ISBN978-3937742083.
- ^Ascher, Andreas (28 August 1998).Nelles Guide: Munich(3 ed.). Munich: Nelles Verlag GmbH.ISBN978-3886181209.
- ^Conners, Valerie; et al. (8 December 2006).MTV Europe (MTV Guides)(1 ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey:John Wiley & Sons.ISBN978-0764584992.
- ^abSöder, Francis (2006). "Hallenkultur und Event statt Denkmal und Industriekultur". In Kaestle, Thomas; Walz, Manfred; Wende, Ovis (eds.).Kunst + Planung = Urbanität? Brachflächen zwischen Stadtentwicklung und urbaner Kunst[Hall culture and event instead of monument and industrial culture]. FH Dortmund. pp. 74–75.
- ^ab"Natraj Temple - Psychodelic experience".munichx.Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^ab"Scene portal Goabase.net".Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^"Natraj Temple".Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^Temsch, Jochen (18 September 2003)."Nachtleben II: Happy Geisterstunde"[Nightlife II: Happy witching hour].Süddeutsche Zeitung.Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^"Natraj zieht um"[Natraj is moving]. Partysan. 26 February 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 19 December 2014.Retrieved15 July2020.
- ^"Natraj Temple".Discogs.Zink Media, Inc.Retrieved15 July2020.
External links
[edit]
Media related toNatraj Templeat Wikimedia Commons- Official website(archived from 2002)
- Virtual Natraj Temple
DE-BY_type:landmark48°7′24.2″N11°36′31.1″E/ 48.123389°N 11.608639°E