World Clock (Alexanderplatz)
The World Clock (German: Weltzeituhr), also known as the Urania World Clock (German: Urania-Weltzeituhr), is a large turret-style world clock located in the public square of Alexanderplatz in Mitte, Berlin. By reading the markings on its metal rotunda, the current time in 148 major cities from around the world can be determined.[1] Since its erection in 1969, it has become a tourist attraction and meeting place. In July 2015, the German government declared the clock as a historically and culturally significant monument.[2]
History
The sixteen ton world clock was opened to the public on 30 September 1969, shortly before the twentieth anniversary of the
The clock was designed by the designer Erich John, who at the time was an employee of the planning group for the transformation of Alexanderplatz under the direction of Walter Womacka. Before designing the clock and managing its construction, John was a lecturer at Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee (then called the Hochschule für bildende und angewandte Kunst, "College of Fine and Applied Arts"), where he taught product design. The idea to erect a clock in Alexanderplatz was had when the wreckage of the Uraniasäule (a.k.a. Wettersäule), a pre-World War II public clock, was found during the restoration of the square in 1966.[3]
The construction of the clock required more than 120 engineers and other experts, including the sculptor Hans-Joachim Kunsch; the Getriebefabrik Coswig company was also instrumental in its construction.[4] In Germany at the time, there was no widely recognized design award, so John did not receive one for his work. However, he received a design award for a different design of his in 1982.
In 1987, a commemorative coin was released with the image of the World Clock. In 1997, the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were added to the clock during a necessary repair to the mechanism – when it was erected, the cities were omitted due to the political sensibilities surrounding the nation of Israel of the time.[5][6] Two cities which had changed their names since the clock was erected were also changed: Leningrad (to Saint Petersburg) and Alma Ata (to Almaty).
Function
The main feature of the World Clock is a large twenty-four sided column (the cross-section of which is a regular
The clock is mechanical, and in normal operation is constantly in motion, although the motion is too slow to be seen by a human observer – it is only readily apparent in
Cities in time zones which are not exact hours offset from
), have their offset in minutes engraved next to them. For New Delhi, the engraving is "NEW DELHI +30`".Once per minute, an artistic sculptural rendering of the Solar System made of steel rings and spheres rotates. Including the sculpture, the World Clock is 10 metres (33 ft) high.[3]
The clock is driven by an
Social relevance
The clock has become since the 1970s the scene of
On 12 May 1983 the
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the German Democratic Republic on 7 October 1989, opposition political groups formed a demonstration which began at the clock and ended at the Palace of the Republic. The state responded by arresting over 1,200 of the protesters. Thirty-three days later, the Berlin Wall fell.
Gallery
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The Berlin TV tower overlooks the World Clock.
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A protest takes place near the clock on 24 April 1990.
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The world time clock by night at Alexanderplatz in Berlin. July 2018.
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World Clock soiled by Last Generation activists with orange paint on 17 October 2023.
References
- Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung, 24/25 December 1997.
- ^ Uwe Aulich: Denkmalschutz für DDR-Häuser am Alex. In: Berliner Zeitung, 14 July 2015, S. 15.
- ^ a b c d e Auskunft des Gestalters der Weltzeituhr, Erich John.
- ^ Homepage von Weltzeituhr Berlin Alexanderplatz Kunsch Metallbau; Referenzobjekte, retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ Frisch poliert: Die Weltzeituhr dreht sich bald. In: Berliner Zeitung, 12 December 1997, retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ Weltzeituhr tickt jetzt wieder richtig. In: taz, 20 December 1997.
- ^ Weltzeituhr – Treffpunkt mit Innenleben. In: Berliner Zeitung, 30 January 2007, Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ISBN 3-8258-6108-2, S. 188