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The Surabaya Urban Transformation Programme - "Dolly"
Surabaya, Indonesia

The Putat Jaya area of the Indonesian city of Surabaya was once the home of South East Asia’s largest red-light districts.

Known as Dolly, the area was once a thriving and self-sufficient economic eco-system until 2014 when the city government closed down the district amid concerns of increasing HIV rates and the negative impact it was having on the reputation of Surabaya.

In 2019 Broadway Malyan was appointed to a team led by Mott MacDonald as a key delivery partner for the Global Future Cities Programme to support inclusive and sustainable urban growth across some of South East Asia’s fastest growing cities, which included the Surabaya Urban Transformation project.

Three key aims:

  • Develop guidelines as part of an urban planning/urban design strategy
  • Promote key industries and explore opportunities to upskill the urban economy through an entrepreneurship strategy
  • Change the perception of Dolly and create a sense of belonging and inclusion through a place and branding strategy

Three key aims:

  • Develop guidelines as part of an urban planning/urban design strategy
  • Promote key industries and explore opportunities to upskill the urban economy through an entrepreneurship strategy
  • Change the perception of Dolly and create a sense of belonging and inclusion through a place and branding strategy

Led by Monique Suksmaningsih, the commission focused on developing replicable design standards and urban design guidelines to regenerate Dolly. This initiative aimed to support the local community through skills and entrepreneurship training, with a specific emphasis on gender inclusiveness and aiding the most vulnerable members of the community.

Through a series of interventions, the project sought to mend Dolly's dislocation from the rest of Surabaya by creating attractions to draw people to Dolly and establishing the necessary infrastructure to support new visitors to the district.

This includes supporting the micro businesses that already flourish within Dolly, harnessing generations of expertise in industries such as Batique and the manufacture of shoes and slippers and creating a social and physical infrastructure that promotes a more sustainable future for everybody.


“The sense of positivity about the future is widespread and infectious. This is a project and a process that is underpinned by a belief in human dignity, where previously unheard voices are elevated, and the actors are empowered to create a new future for Dolly.”
Monique Suksmaningsih, Practice Principal and Project Leader

The physical interventions include a new pilot street designed to create safe, people-focused spaces, supported by a new place brand strategy. This strategy aimed to evolve the neighbourhood's identity and support the overall project objectives.

With continued local participation and ownership, the Dolly brand continues to evolve, becoming more dynamic and community-centric, and playing a crucial role in shaping Dolly's future story and becoming part of its long-term identity. "Dolly" has now become a by-word for grassroots regeneration and positive change management through the wider region.

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