Outdoor living

Terraces, pergolas, landscaping and outdoor kitchens on the Costa Blanca, fully managed

On the Costa Blanca, much of life happens outside: shaded terraces, outdoor kitchens, and gardens that stay green through dry summers. CostaVeyra designs and manages the outdoor spaces as part of the house, coordinating our selected landscapers, contractors and installers from first sketch to handover.

Scope

What a project can include.

Outdoor design direction, budget and programme by CostaVeyra
Terrace redesign, new paving and waterproofing
Pergolas in timber or aluminium, including bioclimatic louvred systems
Outdoor kitchens with barbecue, sink and storage
Retaining walls, steps and terracing on sloping plots
Mediterranean landscaping and dry gardens with drought-tolerant planting
Drip irrigation with automated, zoned controls
Garden lighting and exterior power
Surface drainage for heavy autumn rain
Solariums, roof terraces and shade sails
Site coordination and progress reports with photos

Outdoor space on the Costa Blanca is not an extra; for many owners it is the main living room for half the year. Terraces that were once a strip of tiles in front of the house can become shaded dining areas, outdoor kitchens and gardens that work with the climate rather than against it. CostaVeyra plans and manages them as part of the house, not as an afterthought.

Terraces, pergolas and outdoor kitchens

Start with orientation and shade. A south- or west-facing terrace is wonderful in winter and very hot in August. Options include timber pergolas with climbing plants, aluminium bioclimatic pergolas with adjustable louvres, retractable awnings and shade sails. Near the sea, aluminium with suitable coatings and stainless or coated fixings tends to cope better with salt air than untreated steel.

Outdoor kitchens work best when they are planned as part of the house. Think about:

a short, level route to the indoor kitchen;
water supply, drainage and power, ideally laid before paving;
shelter from the prevailing wind, which matters on exposed hillsides around Jávea and Moraira;
worktops and cabinet materials that tolerate sun, rain and heat.

Paving should be non-slip, comfortable underfoot in strong sun and laid with proper falls. Autumn DANA episodes can bring a great deal of rain in a short time, so drainage channels, gullies and the condition of terrace waterproofing above living spaces deserve attention.

Landscaping, Mediterranean gardens and irrigation

Many villas still have gardens designed around lawn and thirsty planting. A Mediterranean or dry garden replaces much of that with drought-tolerant species, gravel, stone and mulch, structured around existing olives, carobs or pines where possible. Drip irrigation on zoned, automated controllers delivers water where it is needed, and can be adjusted by season or managed remotely.

On sloping plots, the garden is often a series of terraces held by retaining walls. Their condition should be checked before investing in planting above them. We plan steps, walls, planting, lighting and irrigation as one design, so the landscaper and contractor work to the same drawings.

Permits and planning

Paving and planting are generally minor works. Covered or enclosed structures, raised terraces, new retaining walls and anything that adds usable area may need a different procedure, and urbanisations often have their own rules on boundaries, heights and appearance. Close to the shoreline, the Ley de Costas can restrict works. The procedure is confirmed with the ayuntamiento before the design is fixed.

If the outdoor project includes the pool, see our page on swimming pools.

How CostaVeyra manages your outdoor spaces

We define the brief, design direction and budget with you, coordinate the landscape designer, contractors, pergola specialists and installers, sequence services before paving and planting, monitor progress, report to you with photos, and hand over with irrigation and lighting set up.

Our speciality is complete property renovations, so terraces and gardens are usually one part of a wider, fully managed project. See our approach to villa renovation on the Costa Blanca.

Who is involved

Your project team, coordinated by CostaVeyra.

Landscape designer

Works with our project team on the garden layout and planting suited to the climate and soil, and oversees planting, paving and irrigation as part of the programme CostaVeyra manages.

Contractor

Builds terraces, retaining walls, steps, outdoor kitchen structures, waterproofing and drainage, coordinated by CostaVeyra with the other trades.

Pergola and shading specialist

Supplies and installs pergolas, louvred roofs and awnings to the agreed design, with wind loads and fixings checked with our project team.

Irrigation and electrical installers

Install drip and sprinkler systems, controllers, garden lighting and power for outdoor kitchens, sequenced by CostaVeyra before paving and planting.

Before you decide

Considerations.

Permits

Paving and planting are generally minor works. New covered structures, enclosures that add usable area, raised terraces or retaining walls may need a different procedure, and in urbanisations the community may have its own rules. These are confirmed with the ayuntamiento and the community.

Climate and materials

Strong UV fades some timbers and fabrics, salt air corrodes standard metal fixings near the sea, and occasional DANA rain episodes test drainage. Materials and falls are specified with these in mind.

Water use

A Mediterranean garden built around drought-tolerant planting, mulch and drip irrigation uses far less water than lawn and can look settled within a few seasons.

Coastal and slope constraints

Plots near the shore may fall within the Ley de Costas protection easement, which restricts works. On steep plots, access for machinery and the condition of existing retaining walls affect cost and method.

Questions owners ask

Do I need a licence for a pergola in Spain?

It depends on the municipality, the structure and whether it adds a covered or enclosed area. A light, open pergola is often treated differently from a roofed or enclosed structure. We check with the ayuntamiento, and with the community of owners if the property is in an urbanisation.

What is a Mediterranean or dry garden?

A garden designed around plants adapted to hot, dry summers, such as olives, lavender, rosemary, cistus and ornamental grasses, often with gravel and stone, mulch and drip irrigation. It needs much less water and maintenance than lawn-based planting.

What should an outdoor kitchen include?

Typically a grill or barbecue, a worktop, a sink with water and drainage, storage and lighting, sometimes a fridge or pizza oven. Shade, protection from prevailing wind and a short route to the indoor kitchen matter as much as the equipment.

When is the best time for garden work?

Autumn and early spring are generally the best times to plant, giving roots time to establish before summer heat. Hard landscaping is scheduled around planting and around any summer works restrictions.

Can CostaVeyra manage the outdoor spaces as part of a complete renovation?

Yes. Terraces, pool surroundings and gardens are designed together with the house, so services are laid before paving, levels work from inside to outside, and everything is delivered in one managed programme.