We think the goal of any great cabin is to make its occupants feel like a part of their natural surroundings. Cabins don't have to be elaborate constructions, but instead should help visitors reach a balance between a meditative state and a social setting for fellow travelers. In other words, they are a place of focus.
The Auckland-based architecture firm Fearon Hay completed a project called the Storm Cottage last year on New Zealand's Great Barrier Island, and we think it's a great example of a modern getaway cottage. The house itself is well designed, but the first thing we noticed was orientation toward the nearby water. The cottage is only slightly raised above the water, with just enough room to make a small lawn visible. Beyond the lawn is a view that puts both mountains and a clear lake right at eye level.
As it happens, the two-bedroom Storm Cottage is also completely off-the-grid. It has solar panels for electricity and self-sufficient systems for clean water and handling waste. It also boasts two symmetrical bedrooms and a wood-fired stove in the living room. With that view, we imagine meals at that table probably tend to linger.