Architect and project manager
in Thonon-les-Bains.

Thonon-les-Bains, capital of the Chablais and historic departure port for Switzerland, has around 35,000 inhabitants on the south shore of Lake Geneva. The town combines a remarkable bourgeois heritage (Belle Époque villas, spa hotels, restored fishermen's houses), a stock of 1960s-70s apartments that now require major renovation, and a chalet hinterland stretching up towards Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets or Châtel. Using an architect in Thonon ensures a careful reading of the local plan (PLU), the heritage perimeters and the rules specific to the south shore of Lake Geneva.

The Thonon market is driven by the Swiss border. A large share of buyers are cross-border workers or expatriates, which keeps land and construction prices above the regional average. Our clients look for quality workmanship, a lean schedule and a single point of contact able to supervise a project remotely for those living in Geneva, Lausanne or Montreux. Atelier NovAlp ticks these boxes by combining architect, project manager and general contractor, without multiplying contracts.

Our office is in Aix-les-Bains, 1 hr 15 from Thonon via the A41 and A40. Our own site teams work throughout the Chablais. We attend every site for key meetings and represent the client before the planning departments of Thonon Agglomération.

Most common project types in Thonon: major renovation of 1970s apartments in the town centre, construction of contemporary villas on the hillsides with views of Lake Geneva, extensions to family homes in Publier, Anthy-sur-Léman or Sciez, and chalet refurbishment in the inland valleys of the Chablais. We also handle RE2020 new builds in residential areas and RGE energy renovations eligible for MaPrimeRénov'.

Apartment renovation in Thonon. The town centre, the station district and the avenues near the port have a concentration of older apartments (Belle Époque, 1950s-70s), often poorly insulated and poorly laid out. We carry out complete renovations there: strip-out, opening up load-bearing walls, reconfiguring rooms, bespoke kitchen and bathroom, bringing electrics and plumbing up to standard. The Swiss cross-border dimension brings clients with high expectations on finish quality, which our project management in Thonon delivers within the schedule.

Contemporary villa construction on Lake Geneva. On the hillsides of Thonon, Publier, Anthy-sur-Léman and Sciez, sloping plots offer spectacular views over the lake and the Vaud Alps opposite. We design contemporary villas with full south-facing orientation, large openings, durable materials (timber, stone, concrete), RE2020 compliance and thermal optimisation. Our role as architect in Thonon covers the sketch, the permit application, consultation of the trades in the Chablais and supervision through to handover.

Extensions, adding a storey and refurbishment. In Bons-en-Chablais, Perrignier, Allinges or Margencel, extending an existing house is a common alternative to buying a larger property, as land is scarce and expensive on the south shore of Lake Geneva. We support owners in defining the brief, checking the local plan (PLU) (building rights, ground coverage, distance to boundaries), architectural design and detailed costing, then with full project management through to completion.

Chalets in the Chablais hinterland. Thonon is the gateway to a very active mountain area: Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Châtel and Abondance host many projects renovating Savoyard farmhouses and building contemporary timber-frame chalets. These projects fall under the Loi Montagne (French mountain law), planning rules that are strict on materials and roofs, and require precise coordination because of winter access. This is at the heart of our expertise as a project manager in Haute-Savoie.

RGE energy renovation and the CertiRénov label. Our firm is RGE CertiRénov certified by Qualitel, which makes our Thonon clients eligible for MaPrimeRénov' grants and Energy Savings Certificates (CEE). Many homes in the Chablais are still rated E, F or G: energy renovation (insulation, heat pumps, high-performance windows) both drastically reduces running costs and increases the value of the property before sale — a major issue in a cross-border market where resale value often rises quickly.