An ideal escape retreat is located on a remote island in lakeside Finland, surrounded by nature. The hideaway cabin is a thought-through entity that adapts to the changing seasons and landscapes. We designed the cottage and a separate sauna building on the island, the two are connected by their overlapping roof structures. We were in charge of the architectural and interior design of the buildings, as well as the design of the bridge leading to the island. The beautiful views of the lake are generally westwards where the sun sets in the evening. The design was based on respect for the surrounding nature; the goal was to place the buildings on the terrain as naturally as possible, without overpowering the environment. The aim was to effectively maximise all available building permit to allow for a practical and desired programme for leisure purposes. The intention was to create a design that would be as maintenance-free as possible, while bringing the surrounding nature into the atmosphere of the spaces. From a technical point of view, the buildings were designed to be ecological and low-energy-consuming. The materials and colour scheme had to blend in with nature and be as durable as possible.