Miguel started as a trainee very early, still in high school. He was 15 then. He was pretty sure to become an architect. During childhood he was used to draw cities, boats, houses. It was natural for him to pursue these after school hours internships.
He worked for a year with a very known architect in Brazil, and after that he went as a trainee into the office of Claudio Bernardes, one of the most important brazilian architectural firms. He was 16 then. From there, he entered in UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro) to study architecture and urbanism. Already in the first year of college he started doing some interior projects. That was in 1993. He continue designing for clients, parallel to the internship. In 1994 he decided to go out and open his studio.
Together with Thiago Bernardes, his first studio was called "Miguel Guimarães and Thiago Bernardes Associated Architects". They worked together for over 8 years. With the death of Thiago's father, the renowned architect Claudio Bernardes, they were invited by his partner, Paulo Jacobsen, to join the two offices. In 2001 "Bernardes Jacobsen Guimarães" was founded.
Two years later, in 2003, at the age of 29, he decided to leave BJG and opened his own studio, "Miguel Pinto Guimarães Arquitetos Associados". The "Bernardes" brand, so important to the history of Brazilian architecture, made up of three generations of excellent architects, had become so strong, that he felt compelled to follow his own path.
Today, "Miguel Pinto Guimarães Arquitetos Associados", created 16 years ago, has about 25 architects working between the two offices of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Most of its portfolio is made of residences, but they carry out various projects such as residential and commercial buildings, numerous restaurants and shops, some hotels, schools, museums, sports arenas, parks and urban projects.
Currently they have about 40 ongoing projects. There are houses from north to south of Brazil. Mainly in São Paulo and Rio, urban and interior, and in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia and Maranhão. However, the most interesting projects being developed in the office now are the Hotel Joá, with 40 bungalows in the middle of the urban forest of Rio de Janeiro and a Beach Resort in Una-Bahia with 100 bungalows and 40 villas. They are also developing two residential buildings on the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon. In addition they are projecting the greatest gastronomic market of Rio de Janeiro, the "Mercado do Rio". Still waiting for the funding, they have the project of the Jockey Club Concert Hall ready for construction. They are also designing the Masterplan of the Caiçaras Club in Rio and Paulista Equestrian Society in São Paulo. And they will launch next month their first project as an architect and entrepreneur, together with the also architect Sergio Conde Caldas. The Opy.Ará, a condominium of luxury houses, with approximately 400 square meters each around the Botanical Garden in Rio de Janeiro.