The poetry of brass and the challenges of everyday life in Beirut. Polish woman combines European functionality with Lebanese glamour.
10.04.2026
The Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Beirut prepared and recorded a podcast for the “Polacy Światu” portal, featuring Ewa Szumilas – a Polish architect and designer living in Lebanon. The aim of the conversation was to present her professional and personal journey, as well as to show how her experience of living between cultures influences her creative work and the way she builds her brand in the Middle Eastern environment.
During the interview, the guest’s personal story was discussed. Ewa Szumilas shared her reflections on life in Lebanon, including aspects of local culture that she found surprising and inspiring.
An important theme of the conversation was identity and intercultural life. The interviewee spoke about her sense of Polish identity abroad and how living in Lebanon has changed her perspective on Poland. Particular attention was given to her creative work – sources of inspiration, design process, and ways of combining elements of European and Middle Eastern culture in her projects. The discussion also covered her most important projects, as well as the presence of her work at international exhibitions and in industry media.
The podcast also addressed issues related to the perception of Poles in Lebanon, cooperation with local craftsmen, and challenges arising from cultural differences in professional work. The importance of such experiences for building dialogue and mutual understanding between cultures was emphasized.
An additional topic was cultural activity related to the organization of Polish-themed evenings at a restaurant run by the interviewee’s husband, which serve as a form of promoting Polish culture and cuisine in Lebanon.
The podcast concluded with reflections on differences in approaches to work in Poland and Lebanon, advice for those interested in intercultural projects, and Ewa Szumilas’s future professional and artistic plans.
The project contributed to promoting Polish creators abroad and highlighting the value of intercultural dialogue in the fields of art and design.
