Hmmz, this old article about the GameCube has some specific details about the general design.
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=1566&p=2
In general you could say that the design of both the CPU and GPU are based on an existing design that has been extended, the CPU for instance is an existing PowerPC 750CXe with extended operation set. The GPU is the same thing, a basic existing GPU and some extra possibilities like alpha blending and hardware blur etc.
As an engineer i have to say that it's quite an intelligent choise, you don't have to pay a manufacturer to epand an already expensive (and risky!) design and you have some features that your competition doesnt have.
I would prefer to be a Nintendo engineer, and that is why i think the GameCube had still some third party devellopers: it's a nice and interesting challenge for the engineers and programmers.
For the rest: the datasheet are out there on the IBM website
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