Portuguese native Artur Miranda and Paris-born Jacques Bec founded Oitoemponto in 1993. Two different but complementary characters, they combine a taste for crisp, classic French chic (Bec) with a flair for the daring and unexpected (Miranda).
Having nursed childhood dreams of becoming a set designer, Bec studied at Penninghen, the school of art direction and interior architecture in Paris; Miranda did a degree in interior architecture at Cooperativa Árvore design school in Oporto. Bec then became a watch designer for Seiko, while Miranda journeyed to Sweden to design for a fashion label.
‘Both experiences were crucial to the next chapter, with form, function, precision and colour as important to us now as they were then,’ says Miranda.
What's everyone reading?
The pair met ‘at a funny soirée in Paris’ and got on so well they joined forces. Now based in Oporto, they named their studio Oitoemponto – ‘eight o’clock on the dot’ in Portuguese. Partly a wry nod to a friend known for his lateness, it’s also significant to the duo for its link to the infinity symbol, and as a lucky number in Chinese culture.
What’s their style?
Polished and sophisticated with added cosiness – Bec and Miranda are self-confessed comfort freaks. Their projects combine timeless interior architecture with surprising details – think pops of bright colour against neutral backdrops, and hits of punchy, graphic pattern. Both designers are influenced by everything from grand 17th-century French interiors to 1980s fashion and the maximalist glamour of American decorator Dorothy Draper. ‘We have a crush on US design, from Hollywood Regency to John Lautner’s modernist buildings and the hedonistic style of Studio 54,’ adds Bec.
What are their recent projects?
Oitoemponto has designed residences and hotels everywhere from London to Brazil, and Bec and Miranda are now restoring the Château Saint-Maur in Cogolin, near Saint-Tropez. This sprawling, 19th-century family home, famous for its winery and vineyards, has been renovated over four years as ‘a relaxing oasis that combines art, statement designs and a sense of harmony between indoors and out,’ says Miranda.
In contrast, the studio is designing an 126-metre-long, 100-cabin cruise ship, World Traveller. The vessel is notable both for its sustainability – all waste water on board is collected, treated and recycled – and for its ice-breaking hull, which allows it to voyage as far as Greenland, Norway and Antarctica. ‘Inspired by Gio Ponti’s designs for the SS Andrea Doria ocean liner in the 1950s, the interior borrows from mid-century Italian style, with a palette of blue, white and yellow, and boldly patterned carpets and tiles,’ says Bec.
What are they working on next?
A hotel in Oporto (where they’ve previously designed the Monumental Palace Hotel) in an 18th-century building. Plus, they are creating both the architecture and interiors for a private compound in Saudi Arabia, which will contain several houses, and designing a ‘chic, masculine vintage-watch boutique’ on Avenue Victor-Hugo in Paris.
They say: ‘Our philosophy is based on our passions and on the client’s wishes. We never wanted to have a signature style, even if everyone says we have one!’ oitoemponto.com
Expert advice
Oitoemponto on how to create bold, fashion-inspired interiors
Don’t follow trends – they always die quickly. Try to make strong statements instead. Look to history and archival designs and learn about them – the more your discover, the more you can find your own path and be free in your creativity.
Make small but constant evolutions in your decor – these are the key to a modern result. It helps if you always think of light as a vital source, like oxygen, in your home.
Colour imposes an attitude and can completely change a space. Be decisive in your choices – most of us are not natural-born colourists like Picasso, so it helps to be bold. We are very influenced by 1940s and 70s palettes, but never dismiss black and white as an option.
Patterns and textures have to be refined, but also give a casual lived-in feel. We love to contrast glossy finishes, such as exotic wood veneers and marbles, with matte fabrics. The effect is strikingly luxurious, like couture.
