Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk is an event venue at Selnaustrasse 25 in central Zurich, Switzerland, beside the Sihl River and near the city’s main railway station. It occupies a former electricity plant, in the section previously known as the Powerstation, and is operated by Impact Hub Zürich. The building now combines event spaces with coworking areas, meeting and workshop rooms, a café, restaurant and bar.

The 190 m² event hall can hold up to 160 people in theatre seating or 500 for a party. A central installation at the site is made up of 21 shipping containers. The Kommandoraum, once the control centre for the Selnau substation, retains its 1934 arrangement. Another room, the 94 m² Unterwerk, has club lighting, lounge seating and a DJ booth, alongside a system of two 18-inch Outline subwoofers and four Outline tops. A terrace beside the river accommodates up to 100 people.

The Zurich drum and bass series ILLEGITIMATE has run events at Kraftwerk. Zurich Music Week uses the venue as its festival centre, with conferences in the hall and DJing and production masterclasses in the former control room. Its programme also includes weekday afterwork DJ sessions on the terrace and guest-label nights on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Artists who have played there include Phill Turner, Henning, Rosa Pagano and Rina.