Architectural Collection of G.R. Hass
Welcome to the catch-all documentation destination for the Design Projects of George R. Hass.
Meet the Designer
George R. Hass is a recent Graduate of the University of Michigan - Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, having received their M. ARCH degree in May of 2024.
Hass received a Bachelor of Architecture Degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University in May of 2022.
Hass’ interests and research aims lie in anthropology, cultural restoration, and historical preservation, specifically highlighting the presence and prominence of Indigenous groups and Queer identities within Architectural Contexts.
A queer, afro-indigenous creator themself, Hass vies for representation and activism within those spheres, encouraging and participating in dialogues, and raising awareness of visible and invisible diversity.
Lower Level Undergraduate Works
(2018-2020)
Upper Level Undergraduate Works
(2020-2022)
Graduate Works
(2022-2024)
Most Recent Projects
-
FootPrint - Paraphilia in Footwear
Winter 2024 Other Fits Elective Final
-
Upcycled Queer Baroque
Winter 2024 Baroque-isms Elective Final
-
Weaponized Charm - Laser Cut Acrylic Project
Anything But Studio - Independent Work
The Sanctuary of Perpetual Indulgence: Trans-forming Religious Spaces through the Act of Drag
M. Arch Thesis Project by G. R. Hass
Millions of Queer individuals suffer from rejection of their identities. Whether it be a failure to uphold certain oppressive binaries or an attraction to something deemed taboo. In many cases, religious belief is cited as a source of contention and eventual fracture, often resulting in lasting religious trauma.
To combat that reality, there exists an order called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (1979), a non-religiously affiliated group of “Nuns” who don habits and other paraphernalia in their mission to destigmatize the conventual figure while performing selfless acts for those in need. These individuals utilize drag to differentiate themselves, exercise self-expression to the utmost degree, and spread the message of unconditional love and devotion to the betterment of all.
In situating where the Sisterhood may perform its works, The Antiguo Templo de San Agustin (1541) in Mexico City was chosen. Each iteration of the space previously retained an educational element, from an Augustinian Monastery to a Holy College, even serving as La Biblioteca Nacional from 1861 to 1979. In 2019 INAH archaeologists determined the space to be culturally rich and worth preserving.
With the structure’s educational legacy in mind, this zone, staffed by activists and serving the excluded, could act as a ground zero for healing religious trauma while addressing communal concerns, providing a space of sanctuary for all forms of expression (a third-gender third space) where acceptance abounds. Transformation, on the bodily scale of drag (with its exaggerative and illusionary quality) and the building scale of retrofitting ecclesiastical space for performance and interfaith/intergenerational dialogue, creates a welcoming and adaptable area in which those who enter can have their identities validated, concerns addressed, and differences celebrated. The venue serves as an amplifier of the Sisterhood’s message, flying in the face of traditional reticence and embracing indulgent expression in all facets.
