Cover Raymond Phua, chief executive officer of property developer Da Vinci Land and furniture retailer Da Vinci Lifestyle
Raymond Phua, chief executive officer of property developer Da Vinci Land and furniture retailer Da Vinci Lifestyle
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Under the stewardship of CEO Raymond Phua, Da Vinci Land is setting new benchmarks for luxury landed developments in Singapore
Raymond Phua is impeccably dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark brown suit when the Tatler Homes Singapore team meets him at the Da Vinci headquarters in Macpherson Road. It’s an unconventional choice when most men would opt for a navy blue or black set, but he wears it well. Then again, Phua, the chief executive officer of property developer Da Vinci Land and furniture retailer Da Vinci Lifestyle, was never one to tread the beaten path; he has turned his passion for furniture and real estate into successful business ventures that have paid off on both an individual and entrepreneurial level.
Sinking into a plush couch, Phua carries himself well and looks every bit the seasoned businessman. The father of two and movie lover is also eminently affable, with a self-deprecating bent that is refreshingly honest. “I am a boring person,” he laughs. Yet his demeanour belies his firm resolve to elevate the luxury furnishings and property sectors with tailor-made solutions and bespoke development services under the Da Vinci Group.
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Launched in 1994, Da Vinci garnered a keen following among house-proud homeowners not long after its inception, offering good-looking European designer pieces that placed a premium on functionality. Da Vinci Lifestyle, as it is now known, has expanded its global footprint to operate furniture mega-stores in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Italy, representing many well-known furniture brands in the region.
Da Vinci Group made its first foray into real estate six years later, developing the Da Vinci Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2000. Topped off by a sculptural dome, the 35-storey mixed-use development utilises its first 12 levels as a mega furniture showroom, with the remaining floors exclusively comprising luxurious penthouses. Phua proudly states that the development was a “tremendous success, selling out all the penthouses at record prices in Indonesia.” A number of other developments in Indonesia, Thailand and China soon followed.
Da Vinci Land, established in Singapore in 2021, was a natural progression for the group given the favourable outcome of its overseas ventures, and its core strengths in luxury furnishings and lifestyle. The division focuses on developing high-end landed properties, and crafts bespoke homes that are as unique as their owners.
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“There weren’t any companies that had a strong luxury presence when it came to landed developments,” Phua explains. “We already had the ‘Da Vinci’ name, so that settled the luxury part of it. These days, many houses in Singapore look okay, but they do not look beautiful. I wanted for people to be able to drive past [a house developed by us] and say, ‘That must be a Da Vinci home.’ We’re offering a level of customisation and individuality in property development that had been notably absent.”
Da Vinci Land kicks off its development process by identifying covetable sites with the requisite nearby amenities, and working with its in-house architects on developing a design concept for each of its projects. Marketing efforts with renders and animated videos start in earnest once construction gets underway; some houses are sold very early in the process. “We once had a client who made the decision to purchase one of our residences immediately after the viewing, all within two hours,” states Phua with pride.
The firm works closely with the future owners throughout in crafting the abode, underpinned by what it calls the ‘Da Vinci Experience,’ in which the developer curates unique architectural and interior design solutions, including furnishings and fittings, that are specific to a family’s needs. “We believe that no two dwellings should be identical,” declares Phua. Eco-conscious features such as solar panels and electric-vehicle charging stations are also incorporated into each home, while various fittings from brands such as V-Zug, Scavolini, Gessi and Villeroy & Boch lend sleekness and functionality to the interior.
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Da Vinci Land already has a number of upscale developments to its name: Regalità in Singapore’s District 10, Luce Del Sole in District 14, District 15’s Felicità, and District 19’s Giardino. “The entrances to our homes have a Da Vinci Land logo, and metal plaques that name the residence,” says Phua. “The homeowner knows that it is his house and his alone.”
Da Vinci Land clinched the Best Breakthrough Developer accolade at PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards (Singapore) 2023 in late October, which Phua said would spur the firm on in its “relentless pursuit of delivering unique and luxurious property solutions.” He also reveals future plans to strengthen Da Vinci Land’s foothold in Singapore’s landed-development sector, and expand its presence to markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Europe and the US. The firm also intends to widen its scope to potentially include commercial ventures and mixed-use development projects.
“I consider myself semi-retired, but I’m still working,” Phua smiles. “Whatever I’m doing here, it’s really a passion. Passion drives me. Furniture took up many of my years, but I see this as a new stage of my life.”
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Credits
Photography: Frenchescar Lim
Art Direction: Charlene Lee
Grooming: Bendict Choo, using Clé de Peau Beauté
Outfit: Hugo Boss
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