Timekeeping returns to ancient roots with sustainable sundial clock

While digital and analog displays dominate modern timekeeping, a new concept clock taps into humanity’s ancient connection with the sun’s path to tell the time. The Ra wall clock reimagines the sundial – one of the earliest time-measuring devices – through an innovative fusion of old and new.

Created by designer Begüm Kılınç, Ra evokes the mesmerizing shadow-play of a traditional sundial, where a central stick’s shifting shadow tracks the sun’s movement across a flat dial. However, rather than relying solely on the sun’s inconstant arc, the clock employs an LED ring to simulate sunlight from a single point, casting a precise “shadow” that rotates around the circular face.

The ingenious design pays homage to the sun’s role in early timekeeping by harnessing solar power. A transparent solar panel integrated into the clock face harnesses ambient light to sustainably power the LED ring, eliminating the need for disposable batteries or constant charging.

Named after the Egyptian sun god Ra, the timepiece blends mysticism and modernity. While evoking humankind’s earliest efforts to divine time from nature, it leverages technology to overcome the limitations and inaccuracies of the original sundial concept which required clear skies and the sun’s cooperation.

In an era of smart devices and digital displays, Ra offers a minimalist and poetic alternative, free from complex mechanisms or glaring screens. Its elegantly simple design harkens back to timekeeping’s roots while showcasing the potential to merge ancient wisdom with eco-conscious innovation.

As the world grapples with sustainability challenges, the clock serves as a subtle reminder that inspiration can be found by observing nature’s cycles, the muse for humanity’s first temporal measurements. Ra’s blend of the archetypal and contemporary asks us to reconnect with those transcendent roots, even as we embrace new technological advancements.