Valkea Mall Floor Clock – Oulu, Finland - Atlas Obscura

Valkea Mall Floor Clock

An incredibly durable timepiece glows beneath shoppers' feet. 

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This isn’t your typical floor clock. It was built to withstand the weight of a car—though not because it’s in the middle of a road. The clock is embedded in the floor of a shopping mall in northern Finland, so it’s more likely to be tromped upon by pedestrians’ feet.

The illuminated clock consists of 60 segments placed in a circle. The individual pieces can be turned on or off to indicate the time down to the second. The wider pieces go dark to indicate the hour, and there’s a black line to show where 12:00 is. It’s possible to change the color of each individual segment, allowing for a seemingly endless array of appearances.

In addition to being able to survive heavy loads, the clock’s placement means it has to endure other elements, too. It must withstand the water used to clean the floor, as well as snow dripping off boots during the winter months. And, because people walk over it every day, it’s important that the glass doesn’t get too slippery.

Know Before You Go

The Valkea Floor Clock is located right next to one of the entrances inside the Valkea Mall in downtown Oulu.

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September 4, 2019

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