Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In person

Miguel Câncio Martins

Text Bethan Ryder

Miguel Câncio Martins is the Lisbon-born interior designer behind the legendary Parisian nightspot the Buddha Bar, which he created in 1996. Since then he has created almost 100 restaurants, bars, hotels and boutiques all over the world. He runs two design agencies, CM&P in Brussels and his eponymous design agency MCM Design in Paris

01 Where do you live and why?
I live between Paris, Brussels and Lisbon. Paris is where I am based, where I meet people; Brussels is my hidden garden, where my daughter is; and Lisbon is where I was born and where I go to breathe and get my inspiration.

02 What would you advise a visitor to Lisbon to do?
Visit the National Coach Museum (Museo Nacional dos Coches), Sintra and its old palaces (Palácio da Vila, Castelo dos Mouros, Palácio da Pena, Hotel de Seteais). and, of course, Café Brasileira.

03 Did you always want to be an interior designer?
Many possibilities went through my mind when I was young (archaeology, a diplomatic career, hotel architecture). I decided to concentrate on interior design pretty late, after graduating.

04 What’s your favourite building in Europe?
The Pyramid at the Louvre Museum.

05 Which creative professional do you most admire and why?
I admire people with a real talent and passion - people who go all the way. Tadao Ando in architecture, André Puttman in interior design, John Galliano in fashion, and Al Gore in politics.

06 Which are your favourite restaurants in Lisbon?
I like to experience new places all the time but there are old restaurants I also like very much. My favourites include XL (57 Calçada da Estrela, ), Bica do Sapato (Avenida Infante D. Henrique, ), Papa Açorda (57-59 Rua da Atalaia, ), and Luca (35 Rua Santa Marta, .

07 Do you have a favourite bar?
I like to go to the Living Room in the Barrio Alto with my friends.

08 Where do you look for design inspiration?
Anything can be inspiration for me. I just need to look around, observe, let my imagination start to flow, and connect shapes.

09 What was your big career break?
The Buddha Bar in Paris was the breaking moment.

10 Which object couldn’t you live without?
My pen. I do love to sketch non-stop! When I was in school I used to sketch on every square inch of my books. I still have the same habit today.

11 Which phrase do you most overuse?
I keep insisting with my staff and anyone who works with us: observe, observe again and never be satisfied with your work. Go further and find the best solution.

12 Tell us about your Brussels project, Duke’s
The inspiration for this nightclub came from the idea of ancient nobility, and the aim was to create a precious jewellery case-like interior. So classical shapes are mixed with contemporary materials: capitonnée benches and customised resin tables; velvet cushions, leather and textiles; retro-enlightened busts and toile de Jouy wallpaper.

13 You’ve recently also completed a major project in Manchester. Tell us about it…
The Vermilion Restaurant and Cinnabar in Manchester was a big challenge and I am very happy with the result because the whole process went through exactly the way I wanted. The client was quite a pioneer to build such a place out of nothing. We have been travelling around the world to find the right pieces of furniture and we formed a team from all over the world to work on this project.

14 What are the essential ingredients for creating the perfect late-night lounge bar?
A nightclub or lounge is all about ambience, just as cooking is all about taste. As well as excellent ingredients, a good mixture and texture are needed.

15 If you were a cocktail what would you be?
A mojito!

16 What was your most memorable meal?
A dinner at Le Chinois in Santa Monica 10 years ago, and one recently at Le Pré Catelan in Paris.

17 Which six people would you invite to a dream dinner party?
I like to mix people, so JK Rowling to tell me stories, Al Gore to share his ecological approach, Bill Gates to tell us about his experience, and Guy Laliberté (founder of Cirque du Soleil) to make us feel like children. Also Madonna, and my daughter, Shanna, to share such a great moment.

18 Which is your favourite journey?
Apart from working, I like to travel with my girlfriend to discover a new place - just walking around without a tourist guide.

19 What’s your motto for life?
Think big and never give up!

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