Francois Marais, Founder and CEO of Francois Marais Architects and Interiors International, leads a South African architecture and interior design practice established in 1996, with work spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, and interior projects. The firm’s Luxury Home Mansion project in Johannesburg, Gauteng, has been recognized by Luxury Lifestyle Awards in the Best Luxury Architecture (Single Residential Project) category for South Africa. In conversation with Alexander Chetchikov, President of World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, Marais discusses the principles shaping residential architecture, the relationship between experience and function, and the leadership perspective behind a large-scale contemporary home.

Alexander Chetchikov: Francois, congratulations on the recognition of Luxury Home Mansion in the Best Luxury Architecture (Single Residential Project) category for South Africa. The residence is conceived around movement, water, light, and entertainment. How did these ideas shape the architectural direction of the project from the earliest stages?

Francois Marais: Our starting point is always to understand how the home should function and how the client will experience it. From there, we begin creating a journey through architecture. In this project, water, entertainment and strong visual connections became part of that journey. We wanted the house to reveal itself gradually and constantly offer something unexpected as you move through it.

AC: The project incorporates a three-level configuration and approximately 1,800 square meters of space. How do you approach maintaining architectural coherence and a clear sense of proportion within a residence of this scale?

FM: With a house of this scale, we try to create a truly three-dimensional experience. When you enter, your eye should not simply be drawn forward along a corridor. It should be drawn upward into double-volume spaces, across to other parts of the house and, in certain areas, downward towards the lower levels and basement. These visual connections allow you to understand the house as a whole rather than as a series of separate floors. At the same time, proportion is carefully controlled so that even large spaces still feel comfortable and inviting.

AC: A sculptural three-story curving staircase forms a central connection between the levels of the home. What role can circulation elements play in defining the identity and experience of contemporary residential architecture?

FM: Circulation should be part of the architectural experience rather than simply a way of getting from one floor to another. In this house, the staircase becomes a sculptural element that visually connects all three levels. As you move through the space, your perspective constantly changes and different areas of the house are revealed. It becomes both functional and a defining architectural feature.

AC: Water is used as an architectural element through the cascading waterfall connecting the ground floor and basement, while the swimming pool incorporates an integrated firepit. How do you consider the relationship between natural elements, atmosphere, and spatial experience when developing a residential concept?

FM: We enjoy bringing elements into residential architecture that people would not normally expect to find in a home. Water, fire and landscaping introduce movement, sound, reflection and atmosphere. When these elements are integrated into the architecture from the beginning, rather than added afterwards, they become part of the experience of the building and help create memorable moments. Ultimately, we aim to design homes that our clients genuinely enjoy living in—homes that create a sense of escape and bring the atmosphere of a luxury holiday into everyday life. If our clients can feel so comfortable, inspired and connected to their surroundings that they almost prefer being at home to going on holiday, then we believe we have achieved something special.

AC: The basement has been designed around the owner’s car collection and includes spaces such as a private man cave, cinema, and cigar lounge. How do you balance highly individualized client requirements with the need for a residence to remain architecturally unified?

FM: A home should reflect the personality and lifestyle of the people who live in it. Our role is to understand what is important to the client and then translate that into architecture. The individual spaces can have very different characters and functions, but a consistent architectural language, material palette and level of detailing keeps the house feeling like one cohesive design.

AC: Your practice describes its process as combining design, visualization, documentation, and delivery, with 3D visualization and virtual reality forming part of the client experience. How has this approach influenced the way architects and clients communicate during the design process?

FM: Being able to virtually stand inside, walk through and experience your home before it has even been built is something quite unique to our practice, and it is often a mind-blowing and exciting experience for our clients. It has completely transformed the way we communicate design. Most clients are not trained to interpret architectural drawings, whereas three-dimensional visualization and virtual reality allow them to truly experience the space before construction begins. They can understand volume, scale, views, materials and how one space relates to another in a much more intuitive way. This gives the client far greater confidence in the design and allows us to refine it together at a very early stage. It becomes a much more collaborative process, where the client is not simply looking at drawings, but actively experiencing and contributing to the development of their future home.

AC: Francois Marais Architects and Interiors International works across residential, commercial, hospitality, and interior design. From a leadership perspective, what principles help maintain consistency in design thinking while responding to different project types and contexts?

FM: For us, every project begins with a clear understanding of function and the experience we want to create. After that, we look for opportunities to introduce strong architectural ideas, unexpected materials or features that elevate the project beyond the ordinary. The context and building type may change, but the objective is always to create spaces that work exceptionally well and leave a lasting impression.

AC: As Luxury Home Mansion progresses toward its projected completion in December 2026, what broader considerations do you believe will continue to shape the direction of luxury residential architecture in South Africa?

FM: I believe the future of luxury residential architecture in South Africa will be defined less by size or expensive finishes, and far more by experience, individuality and emotion. Clients are no longer simply looking for impressive homes — they want homes that are deeply personal, that respond to the way they live, entertain, relax and connect with their surroundings. We are seeing a greater focus on seamless indoor-outdoor living, integrated technology, environmental awareness and spaces that create a genuine sense of escape. For us, the most exciting homes are the ones that continually surprise you — where architecture, water, fire, landscape, light and technology come together to create moments you would never normally expect to experience in a residence. Ultimately, I believe true luxury is when your home becomes your favorite destination. If we can design a place that makes our clients excited to come home, a place they can experience, enjoy and discover every day, then that is where the future of luxury architecture becomes really exciting.

The conversation with Francois Marais places Luxury Home Mansion within a broader discussion about scale, spatial experience, client-specific design, and architectural consistency. His leadership of Francois Marais Architects and Interiors International provides a relevant perspective on how contemporary residential projects can integrate function, technology, and experiential design while maintaining a coherent architectural framework.

Discover more about Francois Marais Architects and Interiors International: http://www.fmarchitects.co.za.