Buenos Aires’ Under Club is making its dancefloor more inclusive for attendees with disabilities with a series of high-tech and forward-thinking renovations uncommon on the global club circuit.
The Argentine nightlife institution has unveiled plans to install a haptic map, which will guide clubbers with visual impairments around the venue using vibrations, sounds, and other intuitive feedback, and offer braille versions of bar menus and club signage, according to a report from Resident Advisor.
“Our aim is to accompany deaf, mute, and blind people so that they can enjoy our events and the different areas of the club with ease of access,” club spokesperson Hernán Costas told RA.
Also part of the club’s accessibility makeover is an internal, staff-led WhatsApp channel, intended to make it easier for patrons in need of assistance to contact club staff and available from open to close, according to RA, as well as the installation of alert buttons in designated areas that call staff members over for check-ins.
Announcing the changes on Instagram, translated from Spanish, the venue wrote, “At Under Club, we need to open the doors to anyone who is interested in learning about our work and our home. We understand it’s a process, but in every process, it’s always good to take the first step.”
Since its founding in 2013, Under Club has become a beloved part of Buenos Aires’ techno scene. A reportedly “unnecessarily aggressive” police raid forced the club to close in July 2024, but it reopened in September and has since hosted performances from DVS1, Jeff Mills, Ellen Allien, and more. An upcoming run of 12-year anniversary shows will welcome Kevin Saunderson and DJ Pierre next month.
Learn more about Under Club’s accessibility renovations on the club’s Instagram page.
Featured image from Under Club.
