Multiplex planned to deliver a slim, single-tower hotel integrated into the convention centre, which appears to block fewer harbour views than the chosen twin-tower design. Bird's eye view: the Multiplex proposal, top, and the Lend Lease proposal, below. Multiplex's pod-like convention centre opened onto a large public forecourt. Lend Lease's bulkier design appears to encroach further into the foreshore space, but features a high-level concourse connecting the building with other venues. The steep, slanted facade on Multiplex's entertainment centre, reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House, contrasts with the winning bid's flat-fronted warehouse-style design. The chief executive of Urban Taskforce, Chris Johnson, a former NSW government architect, said despite the architectural differences, the two schemes appeared ''remarkably similar'' in the placement of buildings and overall concept.

''I can only assume that it was financial factors rather than design that separated the two proponents,'' he said. Convention Centre: the Multiplex proposal, top, and the Lend Lease proposal, below. The exhibition centre forecourt in the Multiplex scheme appeared to offer more active public use than its rival's landscaped earth bank, and the single hotel tower felt ''more comfortable'' than Lend Lease's 900-room, twin-tower plan, he said. The government this month announced the $1 billion facelift for Darling Harbour to improve the competitiveness of Sydney's major events industry and revive the outdated precinct. Exhibition Centre: the Multiplex proposal, top, and the Lend Lease proposal, below.

Lend Lease won the rights to the project, part of the Destination Sydney consortium also including AEG Ogden, Capella Capital and Spotless. It defeated the VeNuSW bid comprising Brookfield Multiplex, Plenary Group and Sydney Place Management. A spokeswoman for Infrastructure NSW, the government body overseeing the redevelopment, said the Lend Lease plan was chosen on price, urban design, architecture and the extent of facilities. Lend Lease will pay the government an undisclosed sum to build the hotel and a residential, retail and commercial neighbourhood across a quarter of the 20-hectare site. It will build the convention, exhibition and entertainment centres, and operate them for 25 years, during which time the government will make an annual contribution of ''less than $100 million'', Infrastructure NSW has said.

It is understood Multiplex had secured the luxury hotel chain Hilton to operate its proposed hotel. Lend Lease is yet to announce its hotel operator, but sources said Hilton was unlikely to be involved in both bids. The proposed hotel would sit in front of the Novotel hotel, and appears to substantially block its views of the harbour. Novotel declined to comment. As reported last week, the government will pay Multiplex up to $5 million in return for the right to incorporate elements of the losing bid into the final plan. Philip Cox designed the existing exhibition centre, and has criticised plans to demolish it. He said most of the Multiplex design showed ''tiresome triangulated architectural forms desperately trying to be iconic'', adding that both plans exhibited ''mediocrity''.

''The government should recognise the public opposition to the base concepts of both schemes and review the needless destruction and immense public cost before Sydney becomes the victim of irrational planning,'' he said. The dean of the University of NSW's faculty of the built environment, Alec Tzannes, said the success of a big development bid typically came down to the strength of the financial plan to deliver it, not just the design. He said greater transparency on why the Lend Lease design was chosen would overcome a ''shallow, misleading'' public debate that focused only on the architectural ''beauty parade''. Loading A spokeswoman for Destination Sydney said the consortium was selected as the preferred bidder following a rigorous, competitive tender process.

Public feedback would be gathered until the end of February, after which a development application would be lodged and further feedback invited, she said.