Clock of Flowing Time, Water clock in Europa-Center, Berlin, Germany
The Clock of Flowing Time is a water clock in Europa-Center that spans three floors and uses glowing liquid inside glass spheres and tubes to mark the hours. The mechanism relies on the gradual filling and emptying of connected vessels, creating a moving pattern that changes throughout the day.
French inventor Bernard Gitton designed this timepiece for the shopping center in 1982, drawing on the ancient principle of water clocks. Gitton went on to build several similar installations across European cities, though this one in Berlin remains among the largest of its kind.
The clock represents Berlin's dedication to combining technological innovation with artistic expression through its continuous flow of illuminated water measurements.
The timepiece stands in the open atrium of the shopping center near the Tauentzienstraße entrance. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when natural light makes the glowing liquid easier to see against the glass.
A pendulum at the lower section swings once every six seconds and helps regulate the time intervals with precision. The siphon principle ensures that liquid moves from one vessel to the next in controlled cycles.
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