Clock Tower Introduction

Nuri Körüstan Makina Metal A.Ş

Yenişehir Clock Tower & Nuri Körüstan Monument
1936

The octagonal clock tower rising above Yenişehir Republic Square was built from rectangular cut stone, standing 25 meters tall with 7 floors on a 2.5-meter high pedestal. The tower, which is said to have been repaired using weapons and iron fittings melted down after Yenişehir's liberation from Greek occupation, is also known as a victory tower.

Completed in 1936, the tower features clock dials facing four directions on its 6th floor. The clock mechanism, which operates on a weight system, bears the signature of Yenişehir watchmaker Nuri Körüstan.

The roof floor, which is open on all sides for sound to be heard easily and rests on two columns at each corner, has a lead-covered dome. The structure is one of Yenişehir's most important historical landmarks.

In the history of watchmaking, the term "Turkish numeral index" refers to the distinctive number aesthetic seen on the dials of watches produced especially for the Ottoman market between the 17th and 19th centuries.

The numeral form used on these dials originates from the Arabic numeral system; however, European craftsmen stylized and artistically reinterpreted these numbers to appeal to the tastes of consumers in Ottoman lands.

The resulting typeface is neither entirely Arabic nor Latin; it carries a hybrid aesthetic unique to Ottoman taste. These numerals are a symbol of both the East-West interaction of the period and the Ottoman desire to add their own cultural identity to Western clock technology.

2025

This monument, representing the two poles of life, the coexistence of opposites, and rising within this balance, consists of two complementary forms.

These two forms rise in a form that embraces each other without touching. This stance reflects Nuri Körüstan's life philosophy of existing in harmony while respecting everyone's own space.

The most striking element of the monument is the clock reproduction located at the point where the two blocks meet, which holds great spiritual value. This clock is a masterpiece made entirely by hand in 1936 for the Yenişehir Clock Tower by Master Watchmaker Nuri, the great-grandfather of Nuri Körüstan, and is placed right in the middle of the two metal blocks as a tribute to the great master. The clock establishes a bond that transcends time; it symbolizes the values, labor, and craftsmanship passed down from the past to the present.

This monument is not just a work of art, but also a concrete reflection of Nuri Körüstan's perspective on his life, family, and business world. Honoring balance, the harmony of opposites, and the heritage from the past, this work carries deep meanings for future generations as well.