Gading Mediterania Residence is a midrange apartment complex featuring 3 towers of 22 floors for a total of 1,544 units. It was built on 2 hectares of land by the group Agung Podomoro Land, one of the largest property developers in Indonesia.

I stayed there for a few days and this is my honest review of it. If you know about this property, please add your own comment and rating at the end of the article.

Location

Location of Gading Mediterania Residences

Neighborhood

The information below is partly copied from my review of City Home Gading River View which is just 5 minutes away.

In which neighborhood of Jakarta is the complex located?
Gading Mediterania Residence is located in Kelapa Gading, a subdistrict of North Jakarta which is quite modern. Once an agricultural land, it was developed following a grid pattern in the late 1970s. Today, it is a rich area, home to an important Indonesian-Chinese community. It is often considered a “city within a city” as it has its own ecosystem of houses, apartments, malls, offices, and factories.

The complex is not too far from Cempaka Putih and Pulo Gadung, two districts that are more traditional and poorer.

By car, with normal traffic conditions, how far is the complex from:
– Jakarta Airport: 55 minutes
– Grand Indonesia Mall: 45 minutes
– Kota Tua: 30 minutes
– Kemang: 70 minutes

How does it look like around the apartments?

View of Gading Mediterania Residence from Jalan Boulevard Bukit Raya – Google Maps

View of Gading Mediterania Residence from Jalan Boulevard Bukit Raya – Google Maps

The apartment in in a relatively quiet residential area. As you exit the complex, you have a large street, Jalan Boulevard Bukit Raya, where traffic is limited. There aren’t many shops, but you have many street food vendors and warungs. It’s nice if you like Indonesian food.

Street Outside Gading Mediterania Residences

Is Gading Mediterania impacted by floods?
Yes, there are floods quite often (latest was in February 2018). This means you may have issues entering or exiting the complex. This situation could improve in the next few years as the government is planning to build additional canals to evacuate the water.

What are the important landmarks nearby?
Nearby, there are several landmarks you can go to:

Malls:
Two malls are within a reasonable distance:

Mall of Indonesia (MOI) is 2 kilometers away. This is one of the largest malls in Jakarta and it targets the middle-class segment. The main tenants are Centro Department Store, a cinema (Blitzmegaplex), a hypermarket (Carrefour), a bookstore (Gramedia), a massive food court, etc. 

Mall Kelapa Gading is 2.5 kilometers away. It is more more upmarket and even bigger (600 stores). In particular, you have an IMAX cinema and several popular fashion brands (Uniqlo, Muji, Zara, Pull & Bear, etc.).

Supermarkets:
Hypermart in Mall of Indonesia (reasonable prices). For better quality, you can try The FoodHall and Farmer’s Market in Mall Kelapa Gading.

There is also Transmart Carrefour Cempaka Putih on Jalan Ahmad Yani (about 10 minutes away).

Restaurants:
There are many street food stalls just outside the complex. That’s perfect if you like Indonesian food. You can also go to a few warungs and canteens at the ground floor of Gading Mediterania.

For more elaborate venues, you’ll have to go to Jalan Boulevard Barat Raya or to one of the malls mentioned above.

Bars and Nightlife:
Kelapa Gading is an important nightlife area with several pubs and bars. Beware, there is a prostitution area about 300 meters from the apartment with massage parlors, karaokes and strip clubs (King Cross, Sumo, Delta, etc).

Universities, Schools, Preschools:
Kelapa Gading has a wide choice of learning institutions, most of which are targeting the Chinese and Christian communities living in the area. The nearest ones are:
BPK Penabur (kindergarten to high school) – Walking distance to Gading Mediterania.
Iqro Islamic Pre-School and Kindergarten – Inside Gading Mediterania
Universitas Krida Wacana (university)
Highscope (pre-school to middle school)
Mahatma Gading Intercultural School (Indian school)
North Jakarta Intercultural School (pre-school to high school)

You also have nearby:
Universitas Jayabaya (university)
UniSadhuGuna Business School (university/college)
Kwik Kian Gie Business and Computer School (college)
Jakarta Taipei School (elementary school to high school)
Singapore International School (elementary school to high school)
Saint Peter School (preschool, middle school, elementary school)
JAC School (elementary school to high school)

Hospitals:
Omni Hospital Pulomas
Rumah Sakit Islam Cempaka Putih
Rumah Sakit Mitra Kelapa Gading
Rumah Sakit Gading Pluit
Rumah Sakit Columbia Asia Pulomas
Rumah Sakit Puri Medika

Parks:
There is a small park called Taman Ria Rio (or Waduk Ria Rio) just 10 minutes away. For something larger, you’ll need to head to Ancol or Monas.

Offices:
There are not many office buildings in Kelapa Gading. The main Central Business District of Jakarta, Sudirman, is about 40 minutes away.

Religious buildings:
Since the Indonesian Chinese community is important in Kelapa Gading, you should know that there are many churches.

Transportation

What are the main roads or highways nearby?
The Jakarta Inner Ring Road is 1,500 meters away. This toll road goes all around the city and it is quite convenient if you need to reach the South, the North or the West of Jakarta.

What is the traffic situation near the apartment?
The traffic is not very high just outside the apartment, but it gets worse as you reach Jalan Boulevard Barat Raya or Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan.

Is it easy for taxis/GrabCar to find the location?
It is fairly easy.

Is there a TransJakarta bus stop nearby?

None is close enough to go by foot, but 3 are within 5 minutes by car/motorbike:

• Sunter Boulevard Barat (2 kilometers away): Next to Mall of Indonesia, it allows you to catch the line 12 from Penjaringan to Tanjung Priok.
• Yos Sudarso Kodamar (1.5 kilometers away): For line 10 (PGC 2 – Tanjung Priok) and line B12 (Bekasi Barat – Tanjung Priok)
• ASMI (1.5 kilometers away): For line 2 (Pulogadung 1 – Harmoni), 2A (Kalideres – Pulogadung 1), 2B (Harapan Indah – ASMI)

Transjakarta Near Gading Mediterania

Is there a train station nearby?
No, there isn’t.

How about the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) or LRT (Light Rail Transit)?
An LRT station should be built near the Mall Kelapa Gading. When completed, it should link Jakarta Kota to the Jakarta Velodrome.

Are there sidewalks? Is it possible to walk around?
The sidewalks are crowded with street vendors, but you can still walk on the road since the traffic is low.

Building Quality

Building and Architecture

What is the reputation of the developer?
The developer, Agung Podomoro Land, is one of the most famous in Indonesia for midrange apartments. They have a large portfolio of completed projects, many of which I’ve reviewed here already (Metro Park, Thamrin Residences, Sudirman Park, Kalibata City, etc).

I noticed that the maintenance of their older properties is often disappointing. This was the case for Mediterania Gajah Mada and Gading Mediterania. In the latter, the condition was so bad that the residents actually protested against the management.

Who is the architect?
The architects were Megatika International and ImageQreator, two local firms that have often worked with Agung Podomoro Land on Mediterania properties.

Who is the contractor?
The contractor was Wijaya Karya, a large government-owned firm.

What is the situation with the land certificate?
The developer has a Hak Guna Bangunan Murni, which means the property was built on its own land. As an apartment owner, you get a Strata Title di atas HGB Murni. The certificate will expire in 2033.

Design and Appearance

How does the building look like?

From Outside (Facade)
Gading Mediterania Residences looks like many apartment complexes with the brand “Mediterania”. That’s logic since they are usually designed by the same team.

They are massive concrete buildings with a light Mediteranean theme: Pastel colors, statues, columns, archs, etc.

Gading Mediterania Residences Facade

Gading Mediterania Residences

Gading Mediterania Residences Building Facade

Entrance:
Each tower has its own entrance and car drop-off:

Entrance of Gading Mediterania Residences

Entry Gading Mediterania Residences

Reception:
The reception of each tower is mid-sized and not particularly impressive:

Reception Gading Mediterania Residences

Landscaping:
The landscaping is also inspired by Mediteranean influences with mosaics tiles, fountains, and several gardens. It is one of the best features of the residence as it gives the impression of being in a holiday resort.

Around the Pool of Gading Mediterania Residences

Swimming Pool of Gading Mediterania Residences

Fountain in Gading Mediterania Residences

Corridors:
They are simple, with a gypsum ceiling and a uniform white paint. The floor is paved with ceramic tiles.

Corridors of Gading Mediterania Residences

Door in Gading Mediterania Residences

Corridors Gading Mediterania Residences

How spacious are the apartments?
The apartments size is in line with the standards of a midrange property:

– 2-bedroom units = Between 37m2 and 60m2 (1 bathroom)
– 3-bedroom units = Between 73m2 and 83m2 (2 bathrooms)

Materials, Equipment, and Finishes

What is the quality of the materials, furniture, and equipment used in the construction?
This is an evaluation of the quality I observed (ranked from 1 – worst – to 10 – best):

Tiles Lobby: 4
Tiles Corridors: 4
Tiles Apartment: 4
Painting: 4
Lighting: 3
Doors: 4
Ceiling: 4
Elevator: 5
Gym equipment: 5
Pool equipment: 4
Furniture: 4
Artwork: 2

Overall Quality: 4/10

What is the quality of the finishes?
Average quality.

Comfort

Facilities and Services

What are the facilities provided in the property?

– Swimming pool: There are 3 swimming pools areas, each of medium size, and with 2 basins (adults/kids). They are in the shade most of the time as they are surrounded by the towers. Therefore, the water is very cold. It’s fine for kids but not long enough for swimmers.

Pool Area in Gading Mediterania Residences

Pool in Gading Mediterania Residences

Pool Area Gading Mediterania Residences

– Gym – Just the basic equipment but enough for casual users:

Gading Mediterania Residences Gym

Gym Gading Mediterania Residences

– Kids’ Playground:

Playground Gading Mediterania Residences

What are the services available within the property?
Several services are available on the ground floor (40 shops in total): 24-hour minimarkets, canteens, laundry, ATMs, interior design, real estate agents, a shipping company, a salon, a pharmacy, a pre-school (Iqro), etc.

Shops in Ground Floor Gading Mediterania Residences

Laundry Gading Mediterania Residences

Are there issues with the electricity supply?
Each apartment has a different limit so you should ask your landlord/seller about it.

Are their issues with parking?
I haven’t read complaints about the parking. If you don’t have a space with your apartment, you’ll need to pay IDR125,000 per month.

How many lifts are there in each tower?
There are 4 lifts per tower (2 in North entrance and 2 in South entrance).

Lifts in Gading Mediterania Residences

Does the apartment have centralized hot water?
No, you will need an electric water heater.

What is the air-conditioning system used?
There is no central air-cooling system so each unit has its own individual electric AC.

Atmosphere

Is the property busy?
It is a rather busy property, especially in the pool area.

Is it noisy?
The area is rather quiet except for one mosque that I could hear quite distinctively on the Western side of the residence.

What is the background (ethnicity, social status) and attitude of residents?
Most of the residents are either Indonesian Chinese or Indonesian Pribumi. They are usually from the middle class.

Management

The property is managed by Prima Buana Internusa (Inner City), a subsidiary of the Agung Podomoro Land group.

Maintenance

How old is the property?
It was completed on June 30th, 2004.

Are there visible damages?
Yes, you can feel that the property is already almost 15 years old. Issues I have noticed include: Broken tiles, rusty equipment, scratched paint, etc. 

Rusty Door in Gading Mediterania Residences

Cleanliness

The cleanliness could be improved.

Tiles in Gading Mediterania Residences

Gardening

The garden is well-maintained.

Security

– Guards on duty at the gates and reception: 24/7
– CCTV cameras: Few
– Access card: Yes, you need an access card to enter the lift area.

Hospitality

The staff was friendly and professional.

Rooms and Prices

Prices at Gading Mediterania Residence may vary depending on many factors such as the floor, the unit type, the room condition and the furnishings.

Be aware that you may also need to pay for additional fees: Service charge, parking fee, electricity and water bills, etc. Here are a few examples of prices and ratios for this property:

2-Bedroom Type (43m2) – Well-furnished:

• Rental 1 Year: IDR 40 million (or 3.3 million per month)
• Buy: IDR 620,000,000
• Break Even Point (Buying Price/Gross Annual Rental): 15.5 years
• Average buying price/m2: IDR 13.9 million/m2

Which units are the best?
I would recommend a unit facing the East as this is a quieter side. Since the elevator can be a bit slow, a unit on a middle floor can save you some time.

Investment Potential

Is there a potential for a price increase in the future?

An old property like Gading Mediterania will normally not see its price increase. Here are a few factors to consider:

– Factors pushing the prices up:

• Completion of the nearby LRT line

– Factors pushing the prices down:

• Low quality maintenance
• Competition of newer projects

Overall evaluation of the price: Would I buy here?
I would not buy there as the rental price is quite low and it would take too many years to reach the break even point.