X-TRA’s history dates back to 1931 when the Limmathaus opened after about 18 months of construction. Built in the style of Neues Bauen (New Building), from which the Bauhaus movement emerged, the Limmathaus was one of the city’s most modern buildings at that time. It was designed by the Swiss architect Karl Egender who made his mark on Zurich until his death in 1969. Among his many projects were the Arts and Crafts School and the Hallenstadion.

The visit by the boxing legend Muhammad Ali in 1971 was indeed legendary. He trained at the Limmathaus the day before his match at the Hallenstadion, his one and only appearance in Switzerland (picture by Eric Bachmann). More than just a sports venue, the Limmathaus is above all, a cultural hub. It has been the home of X-TRA Production AG Since 1997. The company arose out of the X-TRA Association for Cultural Communications whose purpose was to promote all kinds of amateur art.

Founded as an association on 11th of November 1988, X-TRA opened its first venue ‘ART X-TRA’ in a former Coop supermarket in Zurich’s Witikon quarter. In the nineties, it took over the ‘Palais X-TRA’ at Hardturmstrasse 127 and gained a reputation as a successful organiser of parties and live music.  Bands like Rammstein and Die Fantastischen 4 performed their first gigs outside Germany, at Palais X-TRA. Since the company moved to its current venue at the Limmathaus, it has seen many superstars pass through its doors.