91ÊÓƵ

Seattle architect Robert Hull, who created a nationally recognized style of Pacific Northwest regional design, died Monday from complications caused by a stroke he had while on sabbatical in South Africa. He was 68.

Hull, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and his business partner David Miller, formed the Miller Hull Partnership in 1977. Many of their projects utilized natural materials and were strongly connected to nature, said Rudy Barton, professor of architecture at Portland State University.

“Their work just exemplifies what it means to build in the Northwest,” Barton said. “They have a great appreciation for materiality. The tectonics of their buildings (is) superb. Their craftsmanship is remarkable.”

Hull was able to maintain a high level of quality on multiple scales of building types ranging from small vacation homes to institutional projects, Barton said.

“I really liked their library in Vancouver (Wash.),” Barton said. “It’s more than just a warehouse for books – it’s a place where community can come together. It has a great attention to the natural environment, particularly natural light.”

They designed numerous works in Oregon and Washington, including most notably the Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center and the Tillamook Forest Interpretive Center in Oregon. The firm received several regional and national awards for The Bullitt Center in Seattle, and was named among the top architecture firms in the U.S. by Architect magazine in 2013.

Hull’s family, which includes his wife and two sons, will hold a funeral service in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sunday, according to a press release from Miller Hull Partnership. A public celebration of his life will be held at a later, still undetermined date.