Understanding the Legend that is Space

It is as though Summer clubbing in Ibiza has become synonymous with Space; no clubber's visit to the White Isle is complete without at least one Space session.

Yet what is it about this unassuming building in the middle of an enormous concrete car park in Playa d'en Bossa, that makes it so special? What kind of a club can generate such loving adoration that thousands of clubbers make the pilgrimage every year to Ibiza, just for their Opening and Closing party?

The Space Team talked to the men behind the myth, and delved back into the mists of time to reveal the history of one of clubbing's most revered locations; the Mecca of all day dance music parties - a club that has, for many, become one of the most fun places in the world!

It's all about the music

Pepe Rosello, a passionate lover of the Opera and speaker of 6 European languages, has been the driving force behind Space since the beginning.

He has been a nightclub owner all his life, starting with the Playboys club in San Antonio back in 1963. He says it started in the late 50s and 60s with the arrival of the first 'Hippies' from America (escaping the draft for the Korean and Vietnam wars). His eyes light up as he recalls the incredible musical freedom which they brought to the island - a mish-mash of musical styles and cultures and most important of all this great desire to celebrate their love of music. Suddenly the first bars were opened where the island's youth would throng to listen to this new and exciting musical wave - La Tierra, Mono Desnudo and Graffiti.

Spain was under Franco's dictatorship at the time, and strict laws governing the import of foreign records and live performances by non-Spanish bands threatened to drive this new musical Renaissance back into the underground... and yet in this repressive climate a group of businessmen on the island, in Pepe's own words 'locos por la música' ('crazy about the music') refused to be beaten, and in 1973 Pacha was opened, closely followed by Es Paradis, Amnesia and Ku.... By the mid 80s, Pepe was convinced that the future lay with these big 'macro' clubs: for only they had the capacity to make it commercially possible to bring the best live acts and bands to the eager public.

In 1989 he took over and completely refurbished the failing conference hall / discotech Space in Playa d'en Bossa.

The first challenge was to change people's perceptions of Playa d'en Bossa itself, which was primarily a family resort; and to encourage people away from the main disco route - San Antonio (Es Paradis), Ibiza (Pacha) and the main road between them (Amnesia and Ku - now Privilege).

A complete musical devotee, Pepe was well aware of the lengths to which people would go to listen to music they like, and immediately saw the potential for opening when everyone else had shut. Spanish licencing laws say that an establishment has to close for a minimum of 2 hours a day, so Space opened right from the word go with two sessions - a night time and a day session with 2 hours in between to throw the people out, to restock the bar and to clean up before letting them back in again!

The entertainment policy was a varied one in those early years - Mr and Mrs Space, Miss Ibiza and Formentera, live bands, Flamenco shows - a far cry from the electronica of today, yet it was a formula that worked and the club's popularity grew.

1991 a young British DJ by the name of Alex P had the idea to put a set of decks behind the bar and to play for the people otherwise quietly enjoying drinks on a chill- out terrace. He was joined by Brandon Block two years later and the Space Terrace was born.

The rest... as they say... is history.

Club Culture Explodes into the 1990s

Space's current manager Fritz Pangratz joined the club in 1992, just as club culture and dance music were emerging from the underground. He says there was no one defining moment when Space becoming popular, it went hand in hand with the increasing popularity of dance music, clubbing and of Ibiza itself.

Alongside the growth of clubbing, came the inevitable cult surrounding the DJ. As early as 1993, the odd invitational DJ was gracing the decks - Smokin' Jo, Ricky Montanari and DJ Dag. Fritz fondly remembers one of his first parties on Ibiza inviting international DJ stars to spin, in 1994. Actually a promotion to introduce Red Bull to Ibiza, it was headlined by Sven Väth (whom we hope to see again this Summer in Space) and Marc Spoon - the undisputed kings of the European Trance and Techno scene at the time!

Soon thereafter other 'promoted' parties were appearing - Up Yer Ronson with Sasha; Renaissance with Dave Seaman and John Digweed; React with Carl Cox and even a live performance from Erick Morillo as Reel 2 Reel (we're not sure but the we think it might be him on the rollerskates... only joking!).

And let's not forget larger-than-life Sunday Space Terrace residents, Brandon Block and Alex P, who were fast turning their Sunday morning Sessions into the island's favourite club event.

The Club the DJs Love to Play

Space is all about the music, and it is safe to say that every international DJ of renown has played there at least once. But remember that one of the major reasons Space has been so successful has been the excellence and continuity of its very own residents.

Versatile DJs such as Reche, Jose de Divina and Tania Vulcano, as well as more recent additions Jon Ulysses and of course Steve Lawler. They are the ones who truly understand the Space crowd; they are the ones who know what to play and when to play it and who have been so instrumental in shaping that classic Space sound, both inside and out.

But more often than not, it is for those world famous DJs that so many flock to Space each Summer. Space enjoys very warm relationships with so many of these international stars, many of whom have grown old with the club, and who still give as much energy and love to the crowd now as they did 10 years ago.

Such was the Space myth, that DJs would even ask to play for free. Over the years lucky Space clubbers have enjoyed impromptu sets from Carl Cox, Sasha, Erick Morillo, Sven Väth and many others.

Of course with the growth of club and DJ culture, it would be unrealistic to expect headline DJs to turn up at the door each week asking to play; and this is something which Space understands only too well - but you just have to look at the very close friendship which has developed between Space and the DJs who have supported it down the years, DJs like Carl Cox, Sasha and John Digweed, Steve Lawler, Erick Morillo and many others, to realise that after 15 years... Space is still 'the club the DJs love to play'.

Getting Ready for the New Millenium

Just when we thought Space and clubbing could not get any bigger, Space turned traditional clubbing concepts on their head in 1999 by announcing a 22 hour party - all day and all Sunday night - 22 hours non-stop!

Up until 1999, Space's Sunday sessions finished, (for many rather abruptly!), at 8 pm on a Sunday evening. 'Where to go now?' was the question on everybody's lips as they streamed out of the club. There was no doubt that an even longer party could work, the question was how to do it?

In a joint collaboration between Darren Hughes (the man behind Homelands), Danny Whittle and Space, these 22 hour marathon sessions were born, from 8 am Sunday morning 'til 6 am Monday morning; present ing such a diverse range of DJs and musical styles that people had the complete freedom to choose when they wanted to go to Space - Sunday morning in the main room... Sunday evening on the Terrace... or any combination in between...

And boy did it work - it was a party the likes of which had never been seen before, for 14 weeks that Summer, day and night! The DJ line up was like a festival gathering, and the atmosphere was electric both inside and out. So good in fact that We Love Sundays @ Space (as it became known two years later) won the coveted Best Club Night award at the 2002 Dancestar awards!

Following on from this clubbing revolution was the complete remodelling of the DJ booths both inside and out in the winter of 1999 / 2000.

Traditionally the Space Terrace DJs played behind the bar to the left of the Terrace, invisible to most of the dance-floor. One hot Sunday afternoon in August of 1999, to celebrate the Radio 1 Weekend a separate DJ stage was erected at the far end of the Terrace. Carl Cox, Mousse T and Boris Dlugosh played to an ecstatic crowd. Carl's set won BBC Radio 1's Set of the Year award - and it became clear to Space that both the crowd and the DJs revelled in the increased interaction. So the current DJ booth was built and the bar was left strictly to the bar staff. Inside was a similar situation. Now the DJ takes centre stage at the back of the main room.

The World's best Club - it's Official!

In light of all these improvements and the effort which Space makes every year to try and create the best conditions possible to listen to and enjoy dance music, it was a proud moment for all at the club to win 'Best Club in the World at the 2001 Dancestar awards.

In 2005 Space was honoured with the award for Best Global Club at the International Dance Music Awards, a focal point of the famous Miami Winter Music Conference in recognition of a storming 2004 season.

Space literally built on that success in 2005 with the revamping of the famous terrace (above) and the addition of a new one (see below) and picked up the 2006 award as well.

This meant the club had won the universally acclaimed Best Global Club two years running - a feat which had never been done before.

Space and the Future

This attention to detail, the constant striving to improve what is already such an attractive and potent mix - the light and Summery Terrace, the dark and powerful main room - engenders the type of loyalty which most clubs can only dream of.

Fritz is very aware of this loyalty:

'I think it's because we put in as much effort into giving our visitors the best experience possible as they put into partying here.'

We'd also especially like to thank all the DJs, without whom Space wouldn't be Space; our hard-working staff in the office, in the club, behind the bars and on the door - yes it is a fun place to work, but you wouldn't believe the amount of hard work and planning which goes into running a successful club; the people of Ibiza who have shown immense loyalty and affection throughout the years, Pepe Rosello and Fritz Pangratz - the men behind it all, and of course an enormous thanks to you, our clubbers!