Design chosen for Packer's billion dollar hotel

British firm Wilkinson Eyre Architects has won a competition to design James Packer's proposed billion-dollar casino and hotel at Sydney's Barangaroo precinct.

Three international firms submitted designs for the skyscraper, which were considered by a panel including representatives from Mr Packer's Crown Resorts, the developer Lend Lease, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

In a statement, Mr Packer described the chosen design for the 60-storey six-star hotel with a VIP-only high-rollers' gaming room as "truly special" and said the announcement was a "wonderful moment for Crown".

"When completed, Crown Sydney will be instantly recognisable around the world," Mr Packer said.

"Its iconic curves and fine lines celebrate the harbour and create an architectural 'postcard' that will help attract international tourists and assist Sydney to compete with other global destinations."

Wilkinson Eyre Architects' founding director Chris Wilkinson said it was a privilege to design such a "significant building".

"The challenge for this important waterfront site was to design an elegant sculptural form that will enhance the skyline and create a lively public realm at ground level," he said.

"The special relationship that Sydney has with the water and the effect it has on the light is really very attractive to me and raises my spirits."

The proposed 250m-tall hotel is expected to have around 350 guest rooms, which Crown says will be some of the biggest in the country.

The design competition was not part of the official planning process for the development, which must be approved by the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and the Department of Planning.

Mr Packer's resort and a rival plan from Echo Entertainment, which holds Sydney's sole casino license for The Star casino, are at Stage 2 of the State Government's unsolicited proposal process.

The other two finalists in the competition were Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, and Kohn Pedersen Fox.

No Australian firms were invited to compete.

The winning designs:

Source: ABC News, 16 May 2012