Gehry's rainbow towers

The eye-popping designs reveal how the King Alfred development would become a "riot of colour" which he says would match the vibrant character of Brighton and Hove.

His latest images also reveal how he is sticking to his "crumpled" look on the two main towers in the project - similar to his original Four Maidens design which was scrapped following a wave of protest from its neighbours, who complained the towers were too high.

Opponents to the original four towers plan called them the "four lager louts" or the "tin can towers" but Gehry is hoping the scaled-down version will win universal support.

His latest work in progress show how the two towers, inspired by a photograph of Victorian ladies strolling on the seafront, would look once they have been "dressed" in his famous trademark style.

They are surrounded by about ten lower buildings, including a leisure centre which would be awash with colour in keeping with the array of colours along the city's seafront.

Gehry, who visited the city yesterday, said his leisure and homes complex would be a good neighbour to the community.

The world-renowned architect acknowledged concerns about the scale of the project, which includes the two towers and 700 apartments.

But he said although it would look different to anything else in the area, it would also respect its surroundings.

Presenting his latest ideas to councillors at Hove Town Hall, Mr Gehry said the exterior walls of the buildings surrounding the leisure centre would be constructed of similar materials to Hove's existing buildings but added: "Then you start the party inside."

He said: "This is a beachside community and there is colourful activity at the seaside. We are trying to create a public space that opens to the sea."

The architect's latest designs suggest the sports centre could be brightly coloured in blue, red and yellow.

He said: "I am hoping to use very colourful metals on the roof so when you are in those apartments looking down you are not looking at an ugly roof.

"We will be adding colour to the interior so the perception of the public space is very colourful."

Plans for the development, on the site of the King Alfred Centre, have been two years in the making.

Mr Gehry said: "We have been on a long journey since we started developing this.

"We had a single vision from the beginning to make a group of buildings that when they are built feel that they are inevitable and different. They don't look like anything else but are able to fit in with what's around."

Mr Gehry admitted his previous Four Maidens design was too large.

The height of the tallest tower in his new design will be 60 metres - almost half the height of the original 115-metre proposal.

He said: "We have listened to you and pushed back. Developers have agreed to develop a scheme we feel is comfortable and appropriates and in a decent scale to not stick out like a sore thumb."

But Mr Gehry said he wanted to hold on to some of the energy of the original design.

He told how his inspiration was a picture of a Victorian woman walking on the seafront, and particularly the movement of her dress in the sea breeze.

The picture is pinned to a wall in Mr Gehry's studio in Los Angeles and the architect said: "I have been looking at her since the beginning and trying to capture that sensibility. I don't want to copy it but evoke it."

Mr Gehry said he was working hard with colleagues to refine the detail of the design and predicted it would take another couple of months to finish.

One of the challenges was how to "tame" the massive leisure centre contained within the development.

He said: "The sports centre is huge and we are still fussing with how to fit it in so it doesn't appear huge and is inviting to the public."

He expected the facade of the development would "lean towards white" but had not yet decided on white metal or plaster.

Mr Gehry described his work as an "evolutionary process" which was still open to change.

He said: "We are trying to listen and be a good neighbour and make something very special."

He told councillors: "I'm not going to go down with something I'm not proud of. I don't have to come here and trash the place. I'm anxious that it represents the best project I can make."

Hove and Portslade MP Celia Barlow told the architect his design was "the most beautiful thing I have ever seen".

She said: "It is the most fantastic thought that this is going to be built on the Hove seafront."

Former Hove MP Ivor Caplin urged Mr Gehry not to listen to the "siren voices" that would have him compromise his radical designs.

He said: "I want this to be a world- renowned site."

Councillors will be asked to give the go-ahead to the project as owners of the site at a meeting of the policy and resources committee next month.

If they do, developer Karis, which has agreed to shoulder the cost of the leisure centre in exchange for the income from the sale of luxury flats, will submit a detailed planning application in August.

Construction would begin next year and the development would be completed in 2011 Mr Gehry sealed his reputation as the most impressive architect for a generation with the Guggenheim building at Bilbao, northern Spain. His only UK building, the Maggie's Centre for cancer treatment in Dundee, won the prestigious Royal Fine Art Commission award. He has promised to match that achievement with his King Alfred project.

Mr Gehry told The Argus the seafront setting for his new project gave him the confidence to be more adventurous with the colour scheme.

He said: "My experience with the seaside is of carousels and funny booths where you throw balls at dolls. It's a carnival atmosphere which in the case of Brighton and Hove exists only in the summer months and then goes away.

"The building creates a courtyard which faces the sea and I thought we could be a little bit raucous in there and not infect the rest of the city with it.

"The buildings within this courtyard can be more colourful."

The architect said concerns about the scale of his original design had prompted him to tone it down and fit in to the neighbourhood.

Mr Gehry said his development would be in the same spirit as the Brighton Pavilion.

He said: "I like the Pavilion and i am trying to make a unique building that fits into this neighbourhood which is evocative of the architecture and culture which is generally Victorian."

Mr Gehry said he hoped actor Brad Pitt, who had previously helped out with the design, would be available to design the restaurant.

Selma Montford, secretary of the Brighton Society, said: "Mr Gehry must be mad to think this is suitable for Hove seafront."

Ken Fines, who set up Heritage Over Vandalism to fight "obscure" proposals for Hove seafront, said: "Mr Gehry has just re-worked his crazy Four Maidens plan."