Dutch practice Onix Architects have recently completed this 'Poplar Garden House'.

Part functional mini home, as well as a shed and a sculpture, the structure is located close to the city centre of Groningen in the allotment gardens of Tuinwijck.

This green oasis between the railway track and the Helperzoom offers the inhabitants of the city a low-budget possibility to create the most eccentric gardens.

Tuinwijck is an ecological allotment garden where the public, with an age range spanning right from young children to the elderly, are welcome to enjoy their time.

The gardens have an average size of 200 square meters and are rented out, and on the lot, buildings up to 36 square metres are permitted.

The Poplar House's lot is a sunny one, situated between the playground (South) and the ditch (North). These two different orientations were the reason Onix designed two different outside areas.

One is an introvert space, in the shadow of the apple trees, orientated on the ditch, and the other, is an extrovert space on the creek garden and the playground. The condition of the soil (which is boulder clay) was the reason to choose for a creek garden.

Through stepping-stones at the south side, the plank bridge can be reached, which at the eastern side of the house provides for a connection with the north side.

Onix have given their garden house a saddle roof, which is one of the types that you see a lot at Tuinwijck, the other type is the pent roof.

The volume has been formed so that the house embraces the two outside areas. The house is completely formed by one plank size and is made from poplar wood, and the window stills are made from planks as well as the foundation.

What we like most about this interesting structure is not just that it looks great, but it's also a design that can never be irreversibly 'finished' - the planks are easy to take out so that in the future art can be integrated in the house and different users can customise it to their tastes and needs.