World renowned Gen X author Douglas Coupland to create sky-high painting on West End landmark

A prominentbut decades-old Vancouver rentalbuilding will be getting a facelift from a world renowned author and artist, after the City of Vancouver approved anew public art work by Vancouver'sDouglas Coupland.

According to a statement Thursday,the city's approval means Coupland will be using The Berkeley building as a canvas for a painting commissioned by the building'soriginalowner Reliance Properties.

The edifice of mostly rental apartmentshas been a landmarkat the corner of Denman and Davie streets for60 yearsand is undergoing somemajor upgrades to prepare Coupland's canvas.

"This would be the first time that an entire building serves as my canvas," said Coupland, who will be turning 60 this year.

The Vancouver-raisedartistis better known as the author of the1991 international best-seller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, which propelled Coupland to the world stage.

He has written more than a dozen titles, including Shampoo Planet and Life After God.

In 2016, Couplandwas commissioned to create anotherpublic art installation called TheGolden Tree at the corner of Marine Drive and Cambie Street.

The 13-metre-tall sculptureis an exact, to scale, replica of Stanley Park's Hollow Tree but coated in a gold finish.

Thursday's statement saidthe work will start following public notification and permit issuance, after which a crew of painters will scale the building's four facades, as well asthe rooftop, to execute Coupland's vision.

The property management company's CEO Jon Stovellsaid the work's concept is a "quintessential Coupland with a distinctive combination of colourful geometric patterns that are at once old-fashioned yet futuristic."

"Douglas Coupland was an obvious choice because he's a globally celebrated local artist and The Berkeley has had a strong local presence for more than 60 years," Stovell said.