Outdoor landscaping in Annecy.

In Annecy, the outdoors is not just an add-on to the house: it is a genuine living space. With Lake Annecy, the mountain panorama and an outdoor way of life, you can enjoy your garden for much of the year. A terrace overlooking the lake, a pool to cool off, a pool house for entertaining: well-designed outdoor landscaping transforms your daily life and adds lasting value to your property.

But a coherent outdoor space does not happen by chance. A good project brings together several elements: earthworks and levelling of the ground, the terrace and its surfaces, the swimming pool and its plant room, the pool house, fencing, driveways and finally the landscaping that ties it all together. Each element depends on the others: the slope of the ground, sun exposure, rainwater run-off and the position of the pool must all be considered together from the outset — all the more so on the hillside plots overlooking the lake.

That is precisely the role of a project manager. Atelier NovAlp designs your outdoor space as a whole, prices every work package and manages the works through to handover, from villas in Annecy-le-Vieux to houses in the lakeside towns. This comprehensive approach is the same one we apply to house renovation in Annecy.

The terrace is the heart of the outdoor space: it is where you eat, entertain and extend the house into the garden. In Annecy, a well-oriented terrace often enjoys a view of the lake or the mountains that deserves to be showcased. The choice of surface is decisive, for appearance, maintenance and resistance to the Alpine climate of Haute-Savoie. We build your terrace to measure, with a substructure and drainage suited to your ground conditions.

A timber terrace (treated pine or tropical hardwood) brings warmth and character and is ideal around a pool. Composite reproduces the look of wood without the maintenance: it does not turn grey and resists frost and UV — an advantage in the mountains. Natural stone and porcelain stoneware offer elegance, durability and non-slip surfaces. Finally, exposed-aggregate or smooth concrete is an economical, robust and maintenance-free solution.

Whatever the material, we take care of the details that make the difference: levels and falls to drain water, junctions with the house threshold, steps, integrated outdoor lighting and adjustable pedestals. A successful terrace is one that stays attractive and usable season after season.

A swimming pool radically changes how a garden is used. We design and build in-ground pools, in masonry or with a shell, from the classic family pool to an elegant lap pool for long, narrow plots. Every project begins with a study of the position: orientation to the sun, setbacks from boundaries, ground conditions and management of the earthworks.

Beyond the basin itself, a pool is a genuine small technical structure. We handle everything: earthworks, structure and waterproofing, lining (liner, tiling, render), the plant room housing filtration and water treatment, heating system and safety cover. The pool surround and coping then provide continuity with the terrace.

As for procedures, an in-ground pool with a basin of between 10 and 100 m² requires a prior declaration (déclaration préalable); above 100 m², a building permit is required. Around Annecy, the lakeside towns (Veyrier-du-Lac, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz, Duingt) are subject to the Loi Littoral (coastal and lakeshore protection law) and to strict local plan (PLU) requirements: setback from the shore, protected areas, preservation of views. We check the local plan and handle all the administrative procedures for you.

A pool house turns a corner of the pool area into a real outdoor living space. Depending on your needs, it can house a covered relaxation area, a storage room, a shower and toilet, storage for pool equipment, or even a guest bedroom or studio. We design it as an architectural extension of your house, in harmony with the terrace and the pool.

The outdoor kitchen has become a must-have in Annecy gardens: worktop, plancha or built-in barbecue, sink, storage and sometimes a fridge. Positioned close to the terrace and the pool, it lets you cook and entertain outdoors all summer long, facing the lake and the peaks.

Pool houses and outdoor kitchens often involve a built structure (slab, masonry, roof structure, roofing, water and electricity supply). From 20 m², a pool house requires a building permit. Here again, we coordinate the trades and handle the regulatory side as part of our project management assignment.

A finished outdoor space also means everything that structures and defines it. We install your fencing (panels, rigid mesh, screens, gates and side gates) and build your low walls in stone, concrete or gabions — for privacy, security and retaining sloping ground, which is common on the hillsides overlooking Lake Annecy.

Driveways and access routes set the tone from the entrance: a driveway to the garage, a footpath to the house, a parking space. We build them in asphalt, exposed-aggregate concrete, pavers or slabs, with the necessary earthworks and utilities: drainage, rainwater disposal, ducting for lighting and irrigation.

Finally, landscaping ties everything together: shaping the ground, lawns, beds and planting, irrigation systems, outdoor lighting. Designed in harmony with the terrace, pool and pool house, it gives your outdoor space its finished character. Discover all our services for your projects in Haute-Savoie.

It is the most common mistake: giving the terrace to one firm, the pool to another, the landscaping to a third and the fencing to a fourth. The result: conflicting schedules, diluted responsibilities and junctions that never quite line up. A complete outdoor project involves several trades — earthworks, masonry, pool building, electrics, landscaping — which must work in the right order.

As project manager, Atelier NovAlp designs the overall project, prices every work package, organises and coordinates the trades, and manages the site through to handover. Earthworks and utilities are scheduled first, the pool and masonry structures next, and the finishes and landscaping last. One quote, one schedule, one point of contact.

You gain peace of mind, coherence and time. This controlled approach to the building site is at the heart of what we do: you entrust us with your project and we orchestrate it from A to Z, in Annecy and across the Annecy area. To start a study, simply contact us.