The Center for Urban Design Studies (Bahasa: Pusat Studi Urban Desain (PSUD)) was founded in 1994, as urban development in Indonesia reached a phase that required special urban design considerations.

This was marked by developments such as superblock area, efforts for conservation and revitalization of historic districts in the city and new development in city periphery. The Center for Urban Design Studies tries to answer this problem of urban design and development with a research based approach and concept (technical, esthetical, philosophical etc.) that suits the physical nature, culture, design development and experience, expressions (idioms) and symbolic meaning in Indonesia. This effort is done within the framework of developing an academic field that resides within the public domain