Check the Horticulture Centre of Luillier. They may be interested to have their students work on a real garden under the supervision of a teacher.

If you live in Geneva, you will need a permit from the DCTI if you want to build a retaining wall or construct a wooden deck of more than 5m2. I've just enquired with the DCTI about installing a wooden decking on an existing terrasse. So, before you go out and spend more, make sure you get a permit or else you may be forced to tear it down. In canton VD, the rules may be the same or not.

For a garden designer, have you considered hiring Hester McDonald of the WRS DigIt programme? She seem to know her plants.

http://www.hmgardendesign.com/?lang=en

Good luck!

even if you replace an existing terrasse??

I live in Vaud, I would be surprised if it's the same here, none of the guys who gave us a quoute ever mentionned that!

thanks anyway.

Maybe better to enquire about it tho'

I knew some people who re-landscaped their garden who lived in Vaud.

It was beautifully done but they did have problems with the local commune afterwards who said they hadn't asked permission for some of the features.

None of the gardeners who gave quotes  mentioned this to them either in their quotes beforehand, so they too had not imagined any problems in advance. 

Schilliger, outside of Gland, also offer garden landscaping. They have a succursal in Geneva, so guess they do it there too.

No idea about the prices there tho'.. 

Good luck with it all!

Yup! The rules in canton VD looks almost the same as in GE.

http://www.camac.vd.ch/documents/help_procedure.htm#objets

Basically, any changes to the exterior of a property needs approval, including the color of the walls. A terrace is definitely a change. A retaining wall on a sloping garden is a change.

I've yet to meet a contractor would advise on getting a permit for anything because they can't do the job immediately and eary your $$$