World Time Clock at Alexanderplatz in East Berlin by Silva Wischeropp

About "World Time Clock at Alexanderplatz in East Berlin"

by Silva Wischeropp

About the artwork

This breathtaking cityscape was taken on 18 August 2023 with the Nikon D800. The urban motif with the landmark of East Berlin is perfect for hanging in living and working spaces and gives every room an unforgettable atmosphere. The World Time Clock was installed on Alexanderplatz during the GDR era. Since then, the eye-catching clock installation has been a favourite meeting place for Berliners and tourists. The World Time Clock was designed by industrial designer Erich John as part of the socialist remodelling of Alexanderplatz. After nine months of construction, it was opened to the public on 30 September 1969. The full name Urania World Time Clock is derived from the fact that a "Urania Column" (weather column) was found during demolition work on Alexanderplatz. This discovery gave John the decisive idea for the world clock. The world clock consists of a cylinder with 24 corners, which stands on a column. Each of the corners of the rotating cylinder is covered with etched aluminium plates and coloured enamel. These 24 segments schematically represent the 24 time zones of the earth. The most important names of the cities from the time zones are engraved on the aluminium plates. An hour ring rotates in the cylinder so that the current times in the respective time zones can be read from the outside. At the top of the world clock is a simplified model of the solar system. In a room below the clock, a converted Trabant gearbox from the GDR era still drives the hour ring. The floor at the foot of the world clock is decorated with a mosaic in the shape of a compass rose. After reunification, the clock was expertly restored and errors corrected, as some cities were originally assigned to the wrong time zones. Additional cities were also added to the aluminium plates. The world clock has been a listed building since July 2015.