Brad Pitt has said he is 'really into architecture, structure and design'

The Hollywood star has been asked to design a penthouse flat and the inside of a restaurant for a new residential and leisure complex.

Pitt, 41, has become friends with award-winning Canadian architect Frank Gehry, who is working on the �250m King Alfred seafront development in Hove.

He may travel there when a planning application is submitted in August.

Pitt has been an apprentice at design meetings with Mr Gehry, 76, and the team of project developers from Brighton-based Karis Holdings.

The King Alfred development, on the Kingsway seafront promenade in Hove, will consist of two 25-storey residential towers surrounded by lower-rise blocks of between seven and 11 storeys.

Brad Pitt's involvement will perhaps extend awareness of this project to a new audience Brighton and Hove council spokesman

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said profits from the scheme would be pumped into a new �26m sports centre "nestling among the bottom of the towers".

Plans began in 2003 but an initial proposal for four tall towers was revised to two after objections were raised during public consultation.

A detailed planning application is due to be submitted in August, before work begins "maybe during 2006".

A council spokesman said: "Frank Gehry is a very big name himself but Brad Pitt's involvement will perhaps extend awareness of this project to a new audience, which can only be welcomed."

If Mr Pitt does not support the filing of the planning application in person, he could instead be present when the city council holds discussions in early 2006.

A spokeswoman for Karis said his attendance "all depends on his availability".