Nick Giardino’s salon and gallery is the kind of architectural wonder sought after in the city but now only possible in the heritage towns, like Carleton Place, that ring Ottawa’s urban limits.
The space, once a classic pharmacy, is a variation of the kind of vintage storefront that engages viscerally and physically. With its open concept and soaring gallery-white walls capped by original tin ceilings, vast windows of indirect light and hardwood floors, it reads like architectural porn. It’s a balance of old and new, simultaneously provoking awe, envy and the not-so-irrational desire to sell up and move here immediately.
I met Nick by referral, which is how many projects begin. Like most of his clients, I travel from elsewhere in Ottawa to see him; his is a destination location. I drop by, hot-desk a table in his coffee bar and dive into my work. Between our conversations, people coming and going, and poring through his design library, I leave with a half-dozen ideas and plans for our first creative co-project: If I Wake, an exhibition of my photographic work in his gallery.
Small towns aren’t just dots on a map. Within the footprint of architectural grace, they can become cultural centres unfettered by the weight of a city’s establishment. But you have to be clever about your approach in small places. You have to think about space differently.
One way to grow businesses that are sophisticated (and viable) are through complementary partnerships using a single space for multi-purpose ends. Think, for example, professional services mixed with pop-up shops, arts and culture venues, ateliers, learning centres, meeting and co-working spaces. Co-use spreads the heavy lifting of continuous innovation and creativity and enables the extension of business hours in a single shop front from 8 or 10 per day to sixteen and beyond. Imagine a cluster of such businesses expanding the hours of active street life past the 5 o’clock rollup and shutdown, that economic and social bane of small town main streets.
It’s tricky being at the bleeding-edge of a community beginning to reach beyond its roots. It takes time to find like-minded souls who speak the language of food, art, design, fashion, culture or other such passions. But living in a village, I’ve learned there are wildly talented people – creative or otherwise – hiding in plain sight.
Giardino Salon + Gallery
129 Bridge Street, Carleton Place, ON K7C 2V6
Tel: (613) 492-6000
www.giardinolifestyle.com
Gallery Hours
Tuesday through Saturday
9:00am to 7:00pm
Private viewings with the artist are available by prior arrangement.
Getting Here
Giardino Gallery is located about 30 minutes west of downtown Ottawa.
Follow Trans-Canada Hwy/ON-417W and ON-7 to Franktown Rd. in Carleton Place. Continue on Franktown Rd to Bridge St.
Take ON-401E to ON-37N in Belleville. Take exit 544 from ON-401E. Follow on 37N and Trans-Canada Hwy/ON-7 to Bridge St. in Carleton Place
Follow Route Transcanadienne Ouest/Autoroute 40 Ouest, Trans-Canada Hwy/ON-47 and ON-7 to Franktown Rd. in Carleton Place. Continue on Franktown Rd. to Bridge St.