“We built Happinest as we realized the vitality of an oasis that celebrates creativity in the midst of havoc and ruination.” Myriam Tawk & Rabih Saadeh
The Lebanese zest for life, art, and beauty never ceases to astonish me! “What are you still doing in Lebanon?” I ask Myriam Tawk. Having known her in a professional capacity, I was aware of her immense potential as a talented architect, copywriter, yoga teacher, and art lover. Like many Lebanese, Myriam also carries dual nationality, all of which made me think she would have left Lebanon by now. Opportunities abroad for educated and highly skilled multilingual individuals are abundant, but Myriam did not choose the easy way out, instead, she decided to employ her skills and experience in creating a safe space for individuals residing in Lebanon to explore art as a vocational pursuit, a healing instrument, or even a recreational pastime during the most challenging times.
With hope-filled sparkling eyes, she shows me pictures of the space she and Rabih spent six months renovating. The photos depict a glorious Lebanese traditional house surrounded by nature. The most striking observation I noticed was the sharp contrast between the pictures of the house pre-renovation and those of the house post-renovation. Through the images alone, I could sense a traumatic past inhibiting the house before the restoration. “We are calling it Happinest,” she says, “because we find solace in the arts and want others to experience the same!” I find it particularly curious how one generation’s trauma metamorphoses into another generation’s hope to overcome a present trauma. Lebanon is known for being a country of contradictions, but there is a layer to these contradictions where it borders on absurdity.
The house belongs to the Saadeh family. Myriam is partnering with Rabih Saadeh, one of the house’s heirs, in creating the happy nest. Rabih is a talented musician, singer, and songwriter, who teaches guitar, piano, and music theory. His preferred antidote to dealing with hardship is comedy and music, and he believes in the healing and transformative power of storytelling. Myriam finds refuge and healing in her yoga practice, the arts, and literature. It is obvious that art made it possible for the couple to survive corona restrictions, a financial crisis, and a series of traumatic events and to thrive despite it all. Happinest is their attempt at sharing their experience with others, easing suffering and hardship through the arts.
At a glance, Happinest looks like the perfect creative refuge. Its spacious common areas are suited for artists’ training, workshops, and exhibitions. The bedrooms make residencies possible for local and international artists. The garden and the basement are inviting areas for lively outdoor and indoor events and performances. The charming library looks perfect as a working space and a casual meeting spot.
Happiness is located in the town of Wadi Chahrour, a 20-minute drive from Beirut. The locale reminds me of European heritage sites that municipalities had turned into cultural houses and residencies for artists. Unlike in Europe, in Lebanon, the model is propagating across the country without any support from the state or its representatives. Government bodies seem even to make it particularly hard for individuals to inaugurate new projects. The most challenging part of the Happinest process was establishing a legal entity to carry out the house’s activities. If bureaucracy is considered a nightmare, it is even more so in a failed state.
Happinest programming focuses on performance and visual arts, offering regular and periodic artistic programs.
The regular activities that will take place at Happinest include art classes and art therapy sessions. Art classes will be offered as per a set weekly or monthly schedule. Participants will have the option to choose one or more disciplines to explore. In parallel to the art classes, an art therapy program will be in process. This program accompanies participants on a long-term basis, following the progress of their journey. Certified therapists and psychologists will be consulted in the design of the program and will monitor its implementation.
The ground floor, originally a kitchen and two salons, will operate as a library café. The facility will be open for individuals seeking a serene working space away from the city to focus on their writing, research, or artistic projects. The upper floor, containing a living room with three master bedrooms, will be open to accommodate creatives for residencies, guest speakers/teachers, or any individuals looking to retreat into a wholesome artistic experience throughout the year.
The irregular activities include workshops, exhibitions, and live performances. The workshops will cover a variety of artistic disciplines complementing the regular classes. Through these intensive short-term workshops, participants will have the opportunity to learn extensively from local and international artists and professionals. Additionally, the nest will happily accommodate guest speakers throughout the duration of their workshops. Exhibitions will allow participants as well as professional artists to display their artworks. Events & live performances will host a broad and eclectic assortment of communal and live events ranging from musical performances to stand-up comedy, slam poetry, spoken word, etc.
Additionally, the space will be available for rent to other organizations planning on running artistic activities in line with the house’s vision and mission.
Starting July 2022, Happinest will open its door for residencies and guests. An official launch event will take place announcing their kick-starter program in September 2022.
I say Kudos to the couple who managed to renovate and open the house to the public despite the economic crisis that made it harder to secure fairly-priced material for construction and increased fluctuations in labour cost. Not to mention the effects of the constant electricity cuts and the perpetual increase in fuel prices. To build anything in such conditions takes incredible courage and a lot of faith in people’s potential and its ability to recover time after time. It also gives others confidence that tomorrow will certainly be much better than today.
By: Jana Al Obeidyine, a dancer, writer and independent publisher based in Beirut- Lebanon.
Copyright Photos: Myriam Tawk/Happinest