We are an experimental design studio that creates art and design installations and collections using biowaste. We promote a new wave of sustainable design, envisioning a future without harmful materials and where waste is a resource. ♺
Keep up to date with our ongoing development through Instagram @caracaracollective.
Our studio is run by Aleksi Vesaluoma, designer and material maker, and Aleksi Puustinen, designer and fine woodworker.
All of our materials and products are manufactured in our workshop in Helsinki. We believe in creating outcomes that are in harmony with nature, and want to inspire people to join the bio-movement.
Caracara Collective is named after a bird, which is native to Central and South America. Like many birds, caracaras collect natural matter and create their nests from it. This reflects our vision of recycling and making use of what is available. Also, caracara is a type of orange whose peel is one of our key ingredients.
Our team
These are the people who have worked with us in the studio since the start. While some continue to collaborate with Caracara, others have been part only for a brief period of time. We are grateful to have met them, worked, and learned together. ☀
Tania Malréchauffé — Collaborator (2019 - 2024)
Visual communication, website design, photography, and production.
Fian Arrafiani — Intern (winter-spring 2024)
Material development and production.
Mattia Anderle —Intern (winter-summer 2023)
Material development, prototyping, production, and making studio equipment.
Ellinor Werner — Intern (winter 2021)
Material development, prototyping, production, and photography.
Tatiana Rubiano — Intern (fall 2020)
Material development and production.
Vertti Virasjoki — Intern (summer 2020)
Design, prototyping, production, and photography.
Axel Lyytikkä — Intern (winter 2019)
Prototyping and production.
Anna-Katri Kulmala — Co-founder + former collaborator (2019 - 2020)
Business planning and communications.
Viljam Ahdekivi — Co-founder + former collaborator (2019 - 2020)
Business planning, management, and production.
Vera Illini — Former collaborator (winter 2019)
Visual communication, website design, and photography.
Ongoing collaborations
Our bio-based materials are developed as part of an ongoing collaboration with Biohm, a research and development led company devoted to creating a healthier and more sustainable built environment.
We also closely collaborate and work on projects with members of Mandin, an international art and design collective made up of Louis, Jason, Hook, Richee, Radul and Aleksi.
For our work with fungi, we use the leftover mycelium from Kääpä Biotech, a biotechnology company committed to healthier humans and ecosystems. The company researches, innovates and develops novel solutions with fungi.
Get in touch about commissions or enquiries.
Press & Publications
—Material Source, 24 bio and by-product based materials for 2024, Dec 2023
—Art of Change 21, Impact Art News # 43, Jun 2023
— Attraction Magazine, vol 3, Urgency Issue, Dec 2022
— Der Stoff, aus dem die Zukunft ist, Markus Petruch & Dominik Walcher, Oct 2022
— Bricks, benches and brains, London Business Matters, Sep 2022
— Decoration tolkar eklektisk surrealism, Dennis Valencia, ELLE, Sep 2022
— Waste Not, Ellinor Thunberg, ICON, Apr 2022
—Roskasta designia, Katja Pesonen, Lauttasaari-lehti, nro 45, Dec 2021
—Yle Uutiset Uusimaa 11-09-2020, Yle, Sep 2020
—Paisko rättejä ja ota kantaa!, Tuulia Thynell, Yle, Sep 2020
— Suuren urheilujuhlan tuntua, Aino Frilander, Helsingin Sanomat, Sep 2020
— Interview about the ‘Network’ project, Estelle Leroux, Institut Finlandais, Jun 2020
— Interview at Design Matters Exhibition, Bildmuseet, Nov 2019
— Svamp och apelsinskal – framtidens design, Svenska Dagbladet, Nov 2019
— Design som vill göra skillnad på Bildmuseet, Dagens Nyheter, Nov 2019
— Biojätettä vai taidetta?, Maailman Kuvalehti, May 2019
— Olohuone appelsiininkuorista, Helsingin Uutiset, May 2019
— Structure grown from “mushroom sausages”, Dezeen, Jul 2017
— Zero-waste architecture, Treehugger, Jun 2017
— Zero-waste buildings grown from mushrooms, Inhabitat, Jun 2017
Exhibitions & Events
— Material samples, Material District exhibition, Utrecht, Mar 2024
— Material samples, Biomaterials Library exhibition, Vilnius, Feb 2024
— Transformation, Fungi Film Fest, Dec 2023
— Lakki, product appearance at Biohacker Summit, with Kääpä Biotech, Helsinki, 2022
— Makers.store @ Habitat République, Paris Design Week, Sep 2022
— Design Matters, Nordic Bridges, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Mar-Apr 2022
— Dreaming of Laho Paratiisi, Tuo Tuo, Joutsa, Jun-Aug 2021
— Bloom, Lokal Gallery, May 2021
— Grown Home at Art Agenda 2030, Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Oct-Nov 2020
— Network at Fungi Film Fest, Oct 2020
— Helsinki Design Week Main Exhibition, Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Sep 2020
— Design Matters, Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden, Nov 2019
— Solstice Festival, Rukatunturi, Northern Finland, Jun 2019 - ongoing
— World Village Festival, Kaisaniemi Park, Helsinki, May 2019
— London Festival of Architecture, OXO Tower, London, Jun 2018
— Made in Brunel Showcase, Design Museum, London, Jan 2017
— Eat This! Festival, Amsterdam, Oct 2015
Thank you Taike, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto and Huonekalusäätiö for supporting our work in 2020-2023.
