Project manager & renovation in Chanaz.

Chanaz is one of the most visited villages of character in Savoie. Nicknamed the "little Venice of Savoie", the village stretches along the Canal de Savières, the only natural waterway linking Lac du Bourget to the Rhône. Its narrow streets, old stone houses, mill, flower-lined quays and lively tourist atmosphere give it rare charm, but also particular demands: here, you cannot renovate just any old way. Part of the Grand Lac conurbation (Aix-les-Bains), Chanaz combines heritage appeal with a gentle waterside way of life.

This exceptional setting shapes the demand for building work. Many owners want to renovate a characterful old house while preserving its soul: stone façades, surrounds, roof structures and original volumes. Others want to gain space with a discreet extension in keeping with the scale of the village, or convert a building into a second home or holiday let on the canal. Every project involves a heritage building that holds its share of surprises — damp in old walls, mixed structures, outdated services — and therefore calls for method: survey, measured drawings, plans, planning applications, coordination of the trades and site supervision.

That is precisely the role of the project manager: carrying your project from start to finish, protecting your budget and your schedule, and sparing you from juggling a dozen firms on a delicate site. From our office in Aix-les-Bains, about 25 minutes away, we know the constraints of the area — old buildings, the canal banks, heritage sensitivities — and we work regularly in Chanaz and its neighbouring villages (Ruffieux, Chindrieux, Vions, Culoz).

Renovating an old house is the most common request in Chanaz. In the historic centre as on the hillsides, many stone buildings deserve a complete overhaul: reorganising the volumes to open up living spaces, repairing the roof structure and covering, treating damp and rising damp, internal insulation where the stone façade must remain visible, breathable lime renders and timber joinery. We design these projects to measure, taking care to improve thermal comfort without spoiling the character of the property.

Renovating a character house goes well beyond a simple refresh: it means revealing the potential of a heritage building — exposed beams, dressed stone, vaults, fireplaces — while bringing in today's comfort (open-plan kitchen, contemporary bathrooms, discreet home automation, energy performance). This dialogue between old and contemporary lies at the heart of our architectural approach, and is particularly relevant for a second home or a holiday rental on the banks of the Savières canal.

Finally, a discreet extension lets you gain floor space without betraying the village. A volume grafted onto the existing house, a conservatory, partially adding a storey: every extension is designed to blend with the scale and colours of Chanaz and to pass the town hall's planning review smoothly, including the canal banks and lines of sight. As an RGE-certified company, we also carry out energy renovation (insulation, heating, windows) eligible for public grants, where the local plan (PLU) and the heritage character allow.

The strength of Atelier NovAlp is bringing three professions under one roof: architect, project manager and RGE-certified general contractor. In practice, you no longer coordinate an architect, an engineering firm, a project manager and a dozen tradespeople yourself: a single point of contact carries your project from the first sketch to handing over the keys. This turnkey approach removes the grey areas between the parties involved — where most delays, cost overruns and defects arise, particularly on an old building where every decision counts.

Depending on the nature of the project, we adapt the set-up: an architect's assignment for a large extension or a major conversion, project management for a renovation with separate trade contracts, or general contracting with a performance commitment for a project with a controlled budget. As Chanaz is a village of character within the Grand Lac conurbation, we systematically check the local plan regulations and the village's own constraints — façade and render colours, roofing materials, the appearance of openings, the banks of the Savières canal, lines of sight — before drawing, so the application is compliant from the first submission.

Our RGE CertiRénov no. CR-2026-73-0095 certification (comprehensive renovation offer, issued by Qualitel Certification) also gives you access to grant schemes: MaPrimeRénov', Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) and local grants. We calculate your real out-of-pocket cost and build these subsidies into your renovation's financing plan. Discover all our services or our page dedicated to Aix-les-Bains.