De Houten Windmolen

The windmill is an inseparable part of the Dutch landscape — historically both beautiful and functional. Modern wind turbines have inherited their role, yet many feel they lack the charm of their predecessors. Mothership therefore envisioned a way to reconnect these “giants of sustainability” with the country’s cultural aesthetics.

The concept De Houten Windmolen (The Wooden Windmill) gives modern wind turbines a wooden appearance using high-tech adhesive film. This optical illusion makes the towering structures — reaching up to 150 meters — appear as though they are crafted from wood. The design references the iconic silhouette of traditional windmills, while uniting it with the power and efficiency of contemporary wind energy.

The film used is durable, colorfast, and resistant to weather and wind. The result is a playful and visually appealing wind turbine that enhances rather than disrupts the landscape. De Houten Windmolen is not a technological modification but a cultural intervention — a reconciliation between past and future, form and function, nostalgia and progress.