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“What caught my eye as a designer, as with most industrial plants and control rooms of that time, besides the knobs, levers, and buttons, was the use of a very specific seafoam green…” It’s time for some color theory… https://bethmathews.substack.com/p/why-so-many-control-rooms-were-seafoam
Why So Many Control Rooms Were Seafoam Green

The Color Theory Behind Industrial Seafoam Green

Beth Mathews Design
Apr 6 at 10:32pmkottke bot
Show threadEric PeacockApr 6
@kottke Since the COVID-19 pandemic I've been rocking custom videoconference background photos from an ancient Corel stock photo CD I stumbled across at an old job. As one might expect there are indeed sea foam green control rooms.
Show threadChancerubbageApr 7

@kottke

I most frequently associated this Seafoam color with medical facilities. It was all over midcentury hospitals, doctors offices, their walls and the cabinetry within.

Show threadVisikdeApr 7
@kottke
I worked at a factory in the 80's that made backflow preventers & other valves up to 60 inches. The insides of the valves were painted sea foam green with 3m epoxy paint. Some customers spec-ed the same color as powder coat inside & out, which was a hot dip process.
Show threadkatch wreckApr 7
@kottke also the color of Uranus
Show threadKhleedrilApr 7
@kottke Great article. Funny how walls are 'beige' but identical floors are 'light color'. Also that seafoam green is never mentioned in any of the article's references.
Show threadAdam K0FFY ☕️Apr 7

@kottke This green is instantly recognizable in this Titan missile silo from the Cold War, now a museum south of Tucson!

https://titanmissilemuseum.org/titan-missile-museum-gallery/

Titan Missile Museum Gallery - Titan Missile Museum

Titan Missile Museum Gallery Video: latest comprehensive behind-the-scenes tour Imagery

Titan Missile Museum