A new Four Seasons hotel designed by architects WATG has opened in China’s fourth largest metropolis.

Rising above the city’s central business district, the Four Seasons Tianjin is housed in one of two new towers, both of which are supported by a podium for leisure amenities. The 52,000sq m (559,700sq ft) complex contains 90 residential units, 5,000sq m (53,800sq ft) of retail space and 259 hotel guest rooms in the 210m (689ft) tall Four Seasons Tianjin tower.

The focal point is an 18m (59ft) high atrium within the podium, which is flooded with natural light.

“Light is central to the design concept,” said WATG. “Natural daylight filters through to all the hotel’s public areas, weaving the architecture seamlessly into Tianjin’s bustling cityscape.

“The signature all-day dining restaurant, Cielo is filled with natural light created by grand windows and a glass ceiling. By night, cosy fireplaces and atmospheric lighting transform it into an intimate social space.”

Other leisure facilities include two ballrooms, two other restaurants, a L’Océan Spa, a fitness centre and an expansive outdoor garden pavilion suspended high above the city.

The hotel’s interior design, created by WATG subsidiary Wimberly Interiors, is intended “to honour the rich urban fabric and commercial district that surround the site, while providing a world class experience for the guest”, with each room designed “to embody a home away from home.”

WATG is designing several hospitality projects around the world, including South Korea’s first integrated resort, Paradise City; the Pacific Beach Hotel in Hawaii with Rockwell Group; and a new independent boutique hotel brand for Artistry Hotels Partners.

The wider Four Seasons hotel group has had a busy few months. In February it launched a new Richard Meier-designed property in Florida, in December it opened its first Vietnam resort, and last October the company launched its own in-house design research studio.

Several of its Asian properties were also celebrated at the recent Awards for Hospitality Experience and Design in Asia.