Cosmo Park on top of Thamrin City Mall.
Residents can drive their cars all the way up to the roof via a ramp.
A tall metal fence runs around the perimeter to check that no one falls or drives off.
It is so good.
There is so much open space, my son can ride his bike around.
Kapasi has another reason for living in Cosmo Park.
She and her husband moved there six years ago to escape Jakartas frequent floods.
Its a lovely oasis, she said.
I cannot recommend it enough.
Indri Lestari, another resident of Cosmo Park shares similar sentiments.
Its high here, for sure.
My son can play outside, just out the door.
Photo credit: Muhammad Fadli/The Guardian
Fazila Kapasi and her son in Cosmo Park.
Photo credit: Muhammad Fadli/The Guardian
Street-level view of Cosmo Park.
A row of three-story houses visible on the roof of Mall of Indonesia.
Photo credit:Creativa Images / Shutterstock.com
Street-level view of the same houses.
Life on the ground has become unbearable for many due to chronic flooding that occurs every rainy season.
On top of that, the sea level in Jakarta Bay is rising every year.
But Tokyo and other megacities in Asia are growing vertically.
In contrast, Jakartas density is sprawling horizontally with low-rise single-family houses.
Such development leads to shortage of land leaving little space for affordable housing and parks.
Cosmo Park on top of Thamrin City Mall.
This will help Jakarta fulfill its obligation to allocate 30 percent of its land for greenery.
