In a world where housing is diversified between suburban mansions and portable shelters, the Dutch company Blade-Made proposes an innovative solution: mini-houses built with components from out-of-service wind turbine blades, impossible to recycle by conventional methods.
The project, called Nestle, converts the nacelles —the central capsule of wind turbines— into 35 m² living spaces, bright, functional, and surprisingly warm.
Architectural Supercycling: giving new life to what seemed useless
A creative response to the massive dismantling of wind turbines in Europe.
The energy transition has generated a first wave of wind turbine dismantling, leaving tons of materials with high fiberglass content with no clear destination.
Blade-Made, together with the Superuse Studios studio, decided to face this challenge with a radical proposal: turning the most complex into the most habitable. Thus were born the first Nestle houses, certified by Dutch authorities and with 10 units already ordered.
“Everything around us has an end of life. We need solutions beyond landfill or incineration,” says Jos de Krieger, one of the project designers.
Compact, Warm, and Functional Design
Nestle combines domestic aesthetics with spatial efficiency and noble materials.
The interior of these capsules surprises with its finish in Northern European wood, which brings warmth and elegance. The design includes two rooms, functional furniture, and a layout that optimizes every centimeter.
Unlike many tiny houses with industrial aesthetics, Nestle is presented as a piece of architectural furniture, designed to be seen, not hidden.
Beyond wind turbines, there are other types of mini-houses.
Mini-Houses: Minimalist and Self-Sufficient Lifestyle
Homes between 10 and 60 m² that prioritize sustainability and portability.
Mini-houses like Nestle promote a conscious and efficient way of living, with benefits such as:
- Reduced dimensions and multifunctional design
- Lower ecological footprint and energy consumption
- Portability, ideal for changing environments
- Autonomous systems such as solar panels and waste management
- Esthetic and functional customization
From the U.S. to Japan, and now Europe: a global trend
The mini-house movement solidifies as a response to the housing and environmental crisis.
Originating in part from American minimalist architecture and the need for affordable housing in Japan, mini-houses have evolved into proposals like Nestle, which merge design, sustainability, and supercycling.
More than a trend, they represent a profound cultural shift towards simplicity, autonomy, and connection with the environment.
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