On construction sites with Dad by age three
DAVID Calvisi has Forme.
The 35-year-old is reaching for the sky with a number of niche projects on the Gold Coast and Brisbane – and he is only getting started.
In the latest instalment of the Bulletin’s Young Developer series, the man behind high-end apartments explains how he got started, his vision for the Gold Coast and warns potential investors not to waste time “looking at every site an agent puts in front of you” – “If it doesn’t fit within the strategic direction of your business, let it go.”
DAVID CALVISI, 35, FORME
How did you get your start in development and how old were you?
I started on construction sites with my father – who is a developer/builder – from three years old. Some of my earliest memories are riding on earthworks machines and walking through wet concrete with gum boots.
As I got older, I worked with my father every school holiday and some weekends when possible around sport commitments. It was this early interaction in the industry with my father that established those grassroots connections to construction and property development. Finishing school, I was determined to become a doctor and went down the path of studying physio at university. But after a few years of graduating, working as a sports physio and planning to commence the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) to enter medicine, I was renovating and selling houses.
This was when I realised my heart was in design, construction and property development. I commenced working for a Brisbane developer and builder who was building high-rise apartments in Newstead. It was essentially my apprenticeship.
It was where I learned the important tools and the tricks of the trade from one of the best residential developers. In late 2016, I decided it was time for my next challenge and I teamed up with a couple of mates who were doing commercial developments.
We developed a one-perfloor luxury residential tower called North Residences at 296 The Esplanade, Burleigh Heads and have continued developing high-end luxury projects. My business partner, Byron Griffith, and I then established Forme, a dedicated property development company focused on developing
prestige sites in A-grade, lifestyle-rich locations with an emphasis on world-class design. Your completed projects?
• North Residences Burleigh Heads, 2018; nine-storey, multi-residential, seven units. • Pacific Palm Beach, 2019; 10-storey multi-residential, 16 units. • Norfolk Burleigh Heads, 2021; 10-storey multi-residential, 15 units. • Luna Burleigh Heads, 2021; 10-storey multi-residential, eight units. • Tugun Market Co. 2022; single level, commercial high-end grocer.
What projects do you have under construction – and in the pipeline?
• Sea Burleigh Heads, 18 storeys, 27 units multi-residential; completion first quarter 2024. • Sand Burleigh Heads, 18 storeys, 50 units multi-residential; completion second quarter 2024. • 75-85 James Street, Brisbane, six storeys commercial retail and office development; completion second quarter 2024. • 31 Doggett St, Brisbane, six storeys, mixed-use retail and multi-residential development; completion second quarter 2024.
Why are you expanding to
the Gold Coast? What attracted you?
The Gold Coast to Byron has been an attractive location for some time. Our first development on the Gold Coast was one of the first, if not the first, high-end luxury one-per-floor development post-gfc.
We were early to understand the attractions of beachfront developments on the southern Gold Coast.
Forme has been successful in the high-end luxury development space for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we team up with the very best design teams, and usually multiple design disciplines. We are proud of our collaborative efforts with internationally acclaimed architects and awardwinning interior designers.
Koichi Takada designed Norfolk and since its completion it has boosted Forme’s profile. Publicity from worldleading design blogs, such as Dezeen, has been incredible for both Forme and Koichi Takada.
Our design and construction knowledge and meticulous attention to detail has meant each project is delivered to the highest standard.
I am a licensed builder and this aspect has been invaluable. It’s great working with family-owned and operated builders who have been able to align themselves with our vision. We have created beautiful homes for our purchasers. Lastly, our understanding and appreciation for design and marketing sets us apart from the rest.
Forme now have in-house architects and designers that can really take charge and elevate this part of the business.
What are some of the biggest challenges developers face on the Gold Coast?
Construction and delivery has been the biggest challenge of recent times and will continue to challenge the industry for years, particularly on the Gold Coast which consists of a smaller subcontractor pool than the major cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne and to a lesser extent Brisbane.
Covid has had many positive effects on real estate but it has also had some negatives by making construction and project delivery quite challenging. Navigating this will continue to be difficult for the
next two years. Fortunately, my team is design, construction and delivery oriented. We have systems in place to deal with the next couple of years. It’s also these systems which have been a major contributing factor to the successful product we’ve developed and delivered on the Gold Coast since 2017.
Town planning, at times, can also be challenging. But I have found having a successful track record plays a major role in mitigating this challenge and getting council on-board. Track record and past projects are essentially a developer’s CV.
Don’t be fooled by a bunch of pretty renders/artist’s impressions on a website or Instagram, anyone can pay a visualisation company to make a building look good in a render. It’s the completed projects that count.
In recent times a major challenge developers face on the Gold Coast is in relation to the draft planning scheme amendments proposed.
The proposed amendments effectively reduce density along the city’s established coastal strip through increased setbacks, reduced building heights and down-zoning, which doesn’t make sense to me as the population growth on the Gold Coast is forecast to grow by 55 per cent to 928,000 people by 2041.
Essentially this will significantly reduce dwelling supply, adversely affecting housing affordability and the city’s construction economy.
place a Council should on greater importance the public realm immediately adjoining a or surrounding development
What is your view of Gold Coast development overall – is it an opportunity to enhance the city?
Council should reward good design, in the form of providing iconic architecture, significant mature landscaping and improvements to adjoining public spaces. Council should place a greater importance on the public realm immediately adjoining or surrounding a development.
There are certain things that are non-negotiable for us – upgrading footpath treatment and finishes, undergrounding power lines and installing street trees. However I am amazed these types of upgrades are not conditioned in development application (DA) stages.
What I think would be beneficial is a portion of the infrastructure charges are used to facilitate works to the public realm within close proximity to the site.
At Norfolk I planted mature trees to the adjoining park and also undergrounded the sand-pumping pipe.
Lessons so far?
Time is the most valuable asset. Don’t waste your time looking at every site an agent puts in front of you. If it doesn’t fit within the strategic direction of your business, let it go.
Surround yourself with a good team where you can trust and back their decisions and directions.