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Here's what some Vancouver entrepreneurs want to do with 150 retiring SkyTrain cars

"They are iconic. It would keep the spirit of '86 alive," said David Duprey. "The vintage cars carry a lot of meaning and memories for British Columbians."

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The entrepreneur that made Main Street cool by staying true to its indie, low-rent vibe and a friend who specializes in creative housing solutions have an artful plan for TransLink’s decommissioned SkyTrain cars.

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After David Duprey and Sage Brocklebank saw that TransLink was calling for innovative ideas on what to do with 150 Mark I SkyTrain cars, the first vehicles in the SkyTrain fleet, they hit on the idea of transforming them into artist studios that could be plunked down anywhere in the province — from vacant lots to parking lots.

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skytrain mark I
One of the first SkyTrain cars, seen in 1984.
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“Imagine a SkyTrain car with a pop up studio or designer doing something in it? That would be so fun,” said Duprey.

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While some may become permanent fixtures, others could be mobile, setting up temporarily in areas waiting for development.

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Duprey, whose Narrow Group has created cultural spaces in Vancouver like the Rickshaw and the City Centre Motor Lodge artist studios, loves nothing more than something unexpected and wildly creative.

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“They are iconic. It would keep the spirit of ’86 alive,” said Duprey. “The vintage cars carry a lot of meaning and memories for British Columbians.

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“I remember Expo 86, and taking the SkyTrain for the first time — it was majestic, it was cool. Repurposing them into something useful would be so much fun,” said Duprey.

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art studio skytrain
David Duprey and Sage Brocklebank want to see 150 retiring Mark I SkyTrain cars transformed into art studios. They’re pitching the idea to TransLink. Photo by Designs by Sila Tekin / HANDOUT
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Brocklebank, whose company Apartment Sage likes to “shine up” properties slated for demolition, and turn them into rentals thought maybe housing was the way to go. Could they be transformed into Airstream trailers? Could they be stacked?

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“They’ve got great windows, heating, lighting, they’re waterproof,” said Brocklebank, who brings expertise in remodelling and creating temporary safe housing in underused properties.

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sage brocklebank
Sage Brocklebank hopes retired SkyTrain cars can be turned into artist’s studios. Photo by Arthur Mckinnon
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Duprey, who has already created over 110,000 square feet of studio space in the city for artists, hit upon the idea of artist studios.

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“We are lacking for spaces for artists. The market in Vancouver has made it tough to have affordable spaces. This is a great solution,” said Duprey.

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Their proposal features design ideas created by Sila Tekin, an upcycling expert, and a video.

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“We want to retain some of the original features, like the seating and the design elements people know and love, and add functional work spaces” said Duprey.

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Duprey and Brocklebank foresees the SkyTrain mobile studios finding homes throughout the province, especially in underserved areas.

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david duprey
David Duprey in East Vancouver. Photo: Jordan Petryk Photo by Jordan Petryk?
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Duprey, who grew up in Vancouver, honed his interest in offbeat art spaces and startups while living and working in San Francisco.

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“This is the kind of thing artists do all over the world,” said Duprey. “When I came back to Vancouver, I found a real lack of imagination in the city.”

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That lack of imagination was reflected in restrictive municipal bylaws, especially when it came to new ideas. If something didn’t already exist, said Duprey, he realized he just had to create it and show that it could work.

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And that’s exactly what he plans to do with the SkyTrain cars.

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dryan@postmedia.com

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