Grand Medini Lifestyle Residences in Iskandar Puteri, Johor is the country's best managed and sustainable development.
It recently won Malaysia's Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards 2020 Silver Winner in the below-10-years multi-own strata residential category.
The project is developed by Grand Global Heights Development Sdn Bhd, a real estate developer from Terengganu, and the three distinctive towers within it are green building compliant - one of a very few in the region.
Grand Medini is GreenRE Bronze certified for its efforts in site management, conservation of electricity, water-efficient fittings. Overall, it is an indoor environmental friendly development.
It has a total of 627 units of serviced apartments spread nicely across the three towers and the built-ups range from 474 to 1,119 sq ft.
The units come with either semi or fully furnished. While the majority have been sold, the developer has kept a few units and they are available sale or rent.
Grand Medini was fully completed and handed over to purchasers in August 2018. As of August 2020, the occupancy rate is around 60 per cent and is building up.
Grand Global appointed SCM Property Services, a professional management firm, to sustainably manage the property.
According to SCM general manager Paul Richard, the majority of the units have been rented out to professionals working within Iskandar Puteri and students.
SCM manages the building's maintenance and ensures that owners pay their maintenance fees regularly and that the collection rate is above 90 per cent.
He said the owners must be aware that sufficient cash flow is needed to ensure smooth operations and to upkeep the building and facilities.
Creating a successful project
Grand Global executive director Chai Ko Foong says for a project to be successful and attract strong interest from homebuyers and property investors, it must be sustainable and located strategically with easy access to all major roads.
There should also be a shopping mall, hospital, entertainment hub, schools, as well as government buildings and corporate offices nearby to fill up the vacancy.
Chai pointed out that Grand Medini is surrounded by established signature developments like EduCity, an international best-in-class education hub; Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios; Kota Iskandar, the new Johor State Administrative Capital; Puteri Harbour, a premium waterfront development; Horizon Hills; and LEGOLAND Malaysia, the first of its kind theme park in Asia.
There's also the Gleneagles Medini and Afiniti Urban Wellness Centre offering a world-class wellness center.
In the future, Grand Medini will not be too far off from the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail station.
"Grand Medini bestows heartwarming comforts in the sky homes to define a new green urban lifestyle in the grandest style. It is one of a very few residential developments in Medini Iskandar," Chai told NST Property.
Chai said the synergy of a lush environment with modern residences offers the fitting address that families and city dwellers can aspire to.
The interior design for Grand Medini promotes balance through flowing, multi-purpose spaces. Influenced by the contemporary, the practical layout maximises space and functionality thus enabling each area to be used in multiple ways seamlessly for modern living.
"When we undertook this project, we considered the issues of energy conservation, ecology, and resource efficiency to enrich the community and achieve better sustainability. We want to build a product that is sustainable and which, looks into environmental protection. Even after selling the units, we are still there as a builder for the community," Chai said.
The lifestyle-inspired apartments are complemented with a fabulous range of recreational facilities such as a roof terrace, 50m infinity pool, movie wall, wading pool, party lawn, floating spa lounge, viewing deck, jacuzzi, sauna, seating steps, linear Koi pond, casual tea terrace, playground, maze garden, chill out deck, gym, and tree boulevard.
Chai said future projects by Grand Global will incorporate similar features as Grand Medini.
The developer is planning a residential project with a few elements of retail in Kuala Lumpur.