Douglas Coupland ‘Suite X' At Fairmont Pacific Rim Is Canada's Most Stylish

Forbes

31-07-2025

A reimagined Fairmont Gold Suite: this stunning 1194 sq.ft. space was conceived by famed visual artist and writer Douglas Coupland. Fairmont Pacific
Staying at the splashy new Suite X at Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, Canada, is akin to delving into the brilliant and eclectic mind of Douglas Coupland, the internationally revered Canadian visual artist and author.
As Jens Moesker, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Fairmont Pacific Rim manager attests—it was the perfect synergy between Coupland and the hotel's co-owner and developers, Westbank and Peterson— all whom share the same vision and ethos of what hospitality entails
Farimont Gold Suite X primary bedroom. Fairmont Pacific Rim
This passion project for Douglas Coupland wasn't just to make it the most aesthetically alluring suite, but in many respects—it's an extension of his psyche. Moreover, this grande capsule is a visual-textural tapestry that pays homage to one of his most prominent works, Generation X: Tales For An Accelerated Culture. It's a book that's become part of the canon of Canadian must-reads, defining a (Boomer) generation and has made an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of his fellow citizens and beyond.
Additionally, in echoing his reality—Coupland spent a lot of time on the road (moving from one hotel room to another) so this Suite X is also a deeply personal rendition of what hotel utopia would look and feel like to him. Most importantly—for Coupland—its most salient elements are that while it's tonally sophisticated, it is ultimately grounded in comfort.
Living room and dining room featuring a private patio that offers panoramic views of Vancouver harbour. Fairmont Pacific Rim
Newly unveiled at the end of May 2025 and situated on the 17th floor, at 1194 sq.ft., this reimagined one-of-a-kind Fairmont Gold Corner Suite sees the convergence of culture, design, fashion, and technology. Many accent pieces, books (including those from the Taschen library), and gallery art come directly from Coupland's private collection, resulting in a curated feast for the senses.
The suite includes custom-designed furniture, an in-suite bar, private patio that overlooks the Vancouver harbor and North Shore mountains, a dining room, two bathrooms (including one with a soaker tub), and living room. The charming space is meant to evoke a sense of wonder and awe everywhere you turn—and acting as not only a place of rest and recovery—but one with an intention to spark curiosity, discovery, and conversation. FAIRMONT GOLD REFRESH
The Fairmont Gold lounge and respective rooms/suites were renovated and reopened to the public in March 2025. Fairmont Pacific Rim
On the subject of breathing new life into something, tangential to the Suite X refresh (of which the unit is under the family of Fairmont Gold category of stays), the remaining 60 rooms and suites (which occupy floors 20-22) were also given a revival, including the Lounge area.
Conceived by interior design studio Nivek Remas, the aim for partners Samer Shaath and Kevin Chan was to make these spaces feel more residential instead of static. This was achieved through the use of earthy, warm tones, and black marble; and such thematics were further enriched through additional features such as floor-to-ceiling windows, Bocci light fixtures, and B&B Italia furnishings.
Revealed to guests in March 2025, acclaimed luxury interior design studio Nivek Remas conceived of the refreshed vision for all the Fairmont Gold category of rooms and its lounge. Fairmont Pacific Rim ADDITIONAL ON-SITE GEMS TO HIGHLIGHT:
DINING DELIGHTS
An award-winning restaurant, Botanist features Pacific Northwest cuisine that highlights local Canadian suppliers and farmers. Fairmont Pacific Rim
Botanist is the flagship award-winning restaurant of the hotel. It emphasizes 'Pacific Northwest' cuisine with flourishes of international intentionality, thanks to Executive Chef Hector Laguna—who has taken his global culinary sojourns (which includes working in Toronto and San Francisco)—and applied it to the menu here. Dishes like the hand-cut tagliatelle is amplified with locally foraged mushrooms, mushroom soil, crispy piave; and black pepper-crusted salmon is laced with lavender, sourdough, smoked salmon roe, and dill champion the seasonal bounty of Canada by honoring and spotlighting local suppliers and farmers.
Bento boxes are available for lunch at The Lobby Lounge and Raw Bar. Fairmont Pacific Rim
The Lobby Lounge and Raw Bar transports you to sushi bars of Japan, thanks to Chef de Cuisine Youssef Jbari whose previous stints at Nobu Marrakech have given the dishes an international playfulness. It means that you can relish in sushi and sashimi platters, but also creations like sake and ginger steamed mussels; and roasted red shrimp with espelette peppers.
In partnership with Vancouver's Equinox Gallery, art featured at the hotel includes local and International talents. Fairmont Pacific Rim
Bonus: The hotel's Building Artistry Program brings to life their ethos of being a living, breathing organism that celebrates art, music, and fashion in all its manifestations. For instance, the lobby is dotted with rotational couture pieces from Fairmont Pacific Rim's hotel owner Ian Gillespie's personal collection; as well The Pacific Gallery (occupying the 1st and 2nd floor of the hotel)— which is a showcase of Canadian and international art that's been curated by Equinox Gallery.
SPA SERENITY
Along with treatment rooms, guests of the spa can enjoy the jacuzzi, mineral bath, dry cedar sauna, steam room, fitness centre, and indoor lounges. Fairmont Pacific Rim
The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awarded spa is an urban sanctuary located in downtown Vancouver. Services and treatments are aplenty and span from massage and body treatments to facials and evolved wellness (such as reiki and meditation). Beauty products featured include Nelly De Vuyst, Biologique Recherche, and Beauty Through Balance—with an overarching focus on customized, natural, and holistic skincare.
Favorite treatments include their 'Water-Coastal Mountain Cleanse'—a detoxification wrap (in blue green algae), dry brush exfoliation, steam treatment, and massage; and their 'Fairmont Signature Massage'—a Swedish style aromatherapy massage done on a vibrational sound bed with use of custom body oils (aromas of rhododendron, pine and cedar) sourced from the woods of the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver.