World Clock

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The World Clock on Alexanderplatz has been a popular meeting place for Berliners and tourists since its installation during GDR times.

The World Clock was designed by the industrial designer Erich John in the course of the Socialist redesign of Berlin's Alexanderplatz. After nine months of construction, it was presented to the public on September 30, 1969.

Structure of the World Clock

The World Clock on Alexanderplatz consists of a cylinder with 24 corners standing on a column. Each segment schematically represent the 24 time zones of the Earth. The most important names of the cities from the individual time zones are engraved on the aluminum plates. An hour ring rotates in the cylinder, so that the current times in the respective time zones can be read from the outside. On top of the clock is a simplified model of the solar system. In a room below the clock, a converted Trabant gearbox from GDR times still serves as the motor for the hour ring. The ground at the foot of the world time clock shows a mosaic in the form of a wind rose.

Restauration after the German Reunification

After the reunification, the World Clock was professionally restored and errors were corrected because some cities were originally assigned to the wrong time zones. In addition, more cities were added to the aluminum plates. The clock has been a listed building since July 2015.

Information

• Address:
  Alexanderplatz 1
  10178 Berlin
  City map