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Beit Boustani

In the heart of Mar Mikhael’s main street in Beirut is a magnificent heritage mansion which has been derelict for many years. It was built by Salim El Boustani in 1873 in a hybrid Lebanese-Italianate style called ‘Baroquetta.’ It is the largest heritage site on the street, but has not witnessed the rapid resurgence the area has seen over the past few years: until now. Artist Tom Young, well known for his transformation of heritage mansions Villa Paradiso in Gemmayzeh, and The Rose House in Manara had worked in this house in spring 2016. The project did not see full light due to differences of opinion about the fate of the house planned by the previous owners. In autumn 2017, the house was bought by Nabil and Zoe Debs, who intend to restore the house and garden authentically, keeping its integrity and transforming it into their second project in Lebanon under their 'International Arts Clubs' umbrella. They imagine it as a cultural exchange venue and platform for the arts on the ground floor, the upper floors would become an eclectic home away from home guest house/hotel. This will be the second 'Beirut Arts Club'; the original one in Gemmayze has already hosted a few exhibitions. Its hotel component is rumored to open in 2018. Before renovations began in February 2018, they invited Tom Young back to the house to hold an exhibition to mark the building’s new life- as he had originally intended in 2016. Young resumed his artist’s residence on the ground floor, where he and fellow artist Noor Haydar gave workshops for disadvantaged children (through UNHCR and Makhzoumi Foundation). The workshops were filmed by the BBC on 4th December as part of their ‘Art Lover’s Guide’ to Beirut, to be broadcast on BBC4 later this year. Several members of the Boustani family came back to see their dear old ancestral home for the first time for many decades. They are interviewed in the film. Young collaborated with Haydar, photographer Karim Sakr and performance artist Nadine Sures for the exhibition, titled 'In Residence'. Young will exhibited 30 paintings as a response to the house, its adjoining garden and the rapidly developing city which surrounds it. Haydar created site specific sculptural installations on the themes of displacement and self containment. Sakr produced a series of ‘superimposed’ photographs about the memory of the building’s former residents, whilst Sures screened a video installation of a private performance she gave on the ruined top floor of the house, in response to archival imagery of events that took place at the house in 1963. She then gave an improvised live performance in the exhibition space, in collaboration with Oud player Ashraf El Chouli in January 2018. The exhibition opened on 13th December 2017, and closed on 14th January 2018. Camera: Tony El Khoury, Tom Young, Charles Kassatly Editing: Tony El Khoury Sound: Jad Kas Music: Thelonious Monk, Oak www.tomyoung.com