Michael Graves dies at 80

“It is with deep sadness that Michael Graves Architecture & Design (MGA&D) announces the firm’s Founding Principal Michael Graves has passed away today, suddenly and peacefully, of natural causes. He was in his home in Princeton, New Jersey.” The firm announced on its website.

“Since founding the firm in 1964, Michael transformed the role of architects and designers, and even the place of design in our everyday lives. For those of us who had the opportunity to work closely with Michael, we knew him as an extraordinary designer, teacher, mentor and friend. For the countless students that he taught for more than 40 years, Michael was an inspiring professor who encouraged everyone to find their unique design voice. Of all of his accomplishments, Michael often said that, like his own family, his proudest creation was his firm. As we go forward in our practice, we will continue to honor Michael’s humanistic design philosophy through our commitment to creating unique design solutions that transform people’s lives.” continues the statement.

The five decades of his visionary work is celebrated in an exhibition at Hamilton Grounds for Sculptures entitled “Michael Graves: Past as Prologue”, on view until April 5, 2015.

Among the quintessential practitioners of the Postmodern era, the movement that has deeply influenced later architects like Frank Gehry and Rem Koolhaas (see OMA’s addition to the Cornell College of Architecture, Art and Planning, in Ithaca) Graves was also a designer, realizing many of the most famous Alessi’s products.  

Top: Michael Graves drawing in Rome. Michael Graves Architecture & Design.