Surrytopia: A Cardboard City for Surry Hills At Play
Client: Reactivate Consulting on behalf of City of Sydney
Project: Surry Hills At Play – Surrytopia Activation
Budget: $10,000
About the Client
Reactivate Consulting partnered with the City of Sydney to deliver Surry Hills At Play, a month-long festival celebrating community, creativity, and culture. Designed to support local business and drive foot traffic, the festival combined artistic interventions, community events, exhibitions, and a vibrant street festival in the heart of Surry Hills.
The Concept
As part of the festival’s family-focused programming, Cardboard Mill was invited to design and deliver Surrytopia, a hands-on creative workshop where children and families could dream up their ideal city. Using cardboard templates inspired by Surry Hills architecture, participants were encouraged to build, decorate, and reimagine their urban surroundings.
The Challenge
The client needed the activation to reflect the distinctive architecture of Surry Hills, referencing local landmarks while remaining accessible and engaging for young children. The designs had to be:
- Flat-packed and transportable
- Simple to construct
- Customisable for creative expression
- Rooted in the visual identity of Surry Hills
Our Solution
Cardboard Mill created a playful, cardboard city that celebrated Surry Hills' unique character while sparking imagination and collaboration. We:
- Designed two base cardboard structures that children could decorate and personalise, alongside recognisable Surry Hills landmarks, making the city instantly familiar.
- Ensured all components were easy to assemble.
- Added costume elements such as cardboard hats and accessories to add to the playful nature of the experience.
- Prioritised sustainable materials and design principles, aligned with the festival’s values.
Collaboration and Delivery
This project was highly collaborative, with weekly meetings ensuring alignment at every step. Reactivate Consulting remained closely involved throughout the process from concept refinement to delivery. Thanks to a smooth and transparent workflow, the activation was delivered on time and on budget.
The Result
Surrytopia was one of the most popular elements of the festival. The workshop space remained full throughout the day, with so much interest that workshop hosts from other parts of the festival were redirected to help manage demand.
Children were deeply engaged in building their dream city, exploring themes of identity, environment, and urban imagination through the lens of play. The activation not only brought families together but also gave them a fresh, creative way to connect with their local community.