Above the podium, a 34-storey tower is defined by two adjacent wings which are skewed around a central core. The façade stands in contradistinction to the relentless mirror glass veneer so prevalent on the Abu Dhabi skyline. Here a layered sequence of screens gives depth, shadow and texture to the facades. Vertical terracotta baguettes on the outer layer introduce a polychromy of buff, pink and sand tones – in distant views a specular refence to the desert sunset, while up-close, a vivid three-dimensional screen.

The juxtaposition of the slim articulated tower and the low angular podium creates a dynamic interplay of vertical and horizontal elements. Both share the palette of finely-scaled terracotta rods: in the tower, these are arranged vertically, in the podium they run horizontally. The screen of terracotta filters the light to the interior, softening the contrast between the harsh bright sun outside and the shaded interior spaces.

The first encounter with the building occurs through a sequence of gardens and interconnected public spaces. Each has its own character, with distinct spatial and material qualities calibrated to produce a sensorial buffer between the building and the city. The lobby, an extension of these gardens, is the hotel’s living room. Shops, galleries, bars, and cafes combine to add vitality and a sense of urbanity.  Since its opening in 2016, the Four Seasons Hotel has become renowned for its afternoon tea served in its gardens – a ritual now embedded in the life of the city.