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Circularity: The future of wind turbines

Nestle

Nacelle of a wind turbine repurposed as tiny house

A fully equipped unit — © Superuse studios

Nestle is the transformation of a Vestas V80 Nacelle into a Tiny House of approximately 35m² that fully complies with Dutch building regulations. By demonstrating this repurposing, Superuse can enable all 10,000+ Nacelles of this type to have a useful second life.

The nacelle as a starting point

In the coming years, a large number of wind turbines, including their blades, towers, nacelles and foundations, will be decommissioned, leading to a significant quantity of discarded materials that pose a challenge for disposal. However, rather than viewing these components as waste, we see them as valuable resources. While Superuse has repurposed turbine blades in various projects, the nacelle and cone — the core housing for the rotor, generator, and other machinery — remain largely untapped.

The nacelle, made from glass fiber-reinforced plastics, offers distinct advantages due to its specific properties: it is both watertight and lightweight. Its interior is large enough to accommodate people — especially in the V80 generation and onwards. Recognizing these qualities, we took on the challenge of transforming the nacelle into livable space. This exhibition presents our innovative solution: a fully equipped tiny house nestled within the protective shell of the nacelle.

Turning the nacelle into a habitable unit

Inside the nacelle, a wooden structure contains a kitchenette, bathroom, sleeping and living area. The "Nestle", as we call it, is outfitted with sanitary systems, electricity, plumbing, and insulation, offering both comfort and functionality. It can operate autonomously, powered by solar panels and a battery and is capable of collecting rainwater, or it can be connected to conventional utility networks. Transportable by a standard truck, the Nestle offers flexibility and adaptability, showcasing the potential for a sustainable second life for those discarded materials.

A replicable solution

By demonstrating the feasibility of repurposing nacelles into housing, we open the door to countless other applications, including animal shelters, student housing or building extensions.

About

Superuse Studios is an international architecture collective renowned for designing with materials that had a previous life, always looking for new components that are available for material driven design. Their experience with wind turbine blades has resulted in a spin off company, Blade–Made.

Nacelle interior

The empty nacelle before being fitted out

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