Alternate wind turbine design

http://inhabitat.com/super-powered-magnetic-wind-turbine-maglev/

Back in the '70's there was a design in Popular Science for a wind turbine that looked like the one in the link above (without the high tech, mag lev, stuff).  It was housed in a round building with flaps in the walls that would open a certain amount based on wind speed, etc.  Does anyone know about this?  I always thought it would be an easier DIY project for wind power than the standard blade turbines.

I kind of doubt it would be an easier DIY project.

Since you literally can throw a traditional wind turbine together out of spare parts in any junk yard and have a functional wind turbine.

That said, it does look like a cool design. Sadly can't help you with the old Pop Science version.

IIRC, the advance of the design I saw is that the windmill could be used in a greater range of wind speeds because the flaps in the walls could be adjusted to "slow things down".