Tampere restores iconic clock in Pyynikintori square after years of neglect

The city of Tampere has restored the clock located in the iconic Pyynikintori square. For years, passersby were faced with an unsightly sight, having only seen a trash bag or its remnants covering the clock. The initiative for the restoration came from Tuomas Salovaara, the port master of Tampere, who frequently takes his child to a nearby conservatory. The clock, shrouded in rubbish sheeting and situated prominently in the square, caught his attention.

Salovaara has a history of leading various repair projects. Last year, he oversaw the restoration of the old water measurement hut at Pyynikki. He previously worked on repairing a similar clock at Mustalahden harbor and decided it was time to address the Pyynikintori clock with the same enthusiasm. The repair involved not just the clock but also fixing the city’s lighting, which was also broken. Salovaara noted how the illuminated clock now enhances the square’s appeal.

While Salovaara could not specify how long the clock had been out of order, he acknowledged the challenges faced during the repair. Previously, the clocks were operated by a copper wire connected to the city’s central clock, but this setup was no longer functional. The new system has been modernized with a local GPS clock.

Salovaara received feedback from residents regarding the colour change; the old antique hue was replaced by a more modern white. He clarified that this was intentional, as the white color is the original shade, which was revealed through sandblasting.