Postmodern architect Graves, who had Target goods line, dies

An architect who designed modern and whimsical postmodern structures and later household goods sold at Minneapolis-based Target stores has died in New Jersey. Michael Graves was 80 years old.

Spokeswoman Michelle DiLello says Graves died of natural causes Thursday in his longtime hometown of Princeton.

Graves was born in Indianapolis. He designed buildings including The Portland Building in Portland, Oregon, and The Humana Building, in Louisville, Ky. He also did a campus master plan for Rice University in Houston and designed the scaffolding that surrounded the Washington Monument during a restoration project.

His buildings often had a sense of whimsy. At 1 Port Center in Camden, New Jersey, he used yellow and blue to liven up an office building.

Graves has had branded lines of housewares including teapots and colanders for sale at Target and JCPenney stores since 1999.