DIY Alpine Trough Fountain Idea - July 2026

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I saw this DIY fountain project featuring an Alpine trough and pondless setup on Instagram recently and it stuck with me so much that I've gone back to it a few times.  It is a small concrete (or stone or faux, I have no idea) trough, a simple copper faucet and an underground storage chamber that creates a pondless fountain situation.  Very European garden-feeling.  (To me, at least.) 

Here it is embedded below: 


It is small but pretty striking.  I've talked about upgrading our water-feature situation over the years and even included an upgrade on my 2026 to-do list (#23).  

I've read and watched a ton of stories/videos about hypertufa and have recently poked around on DIY'ing an Alpine trough.  It seems that one of the ways forward is using a foam chassis that you wrap in concrete to create a lightweight tub.  That seems...well....interesting.  

First, the foam chassis.  I found this U-Line cooler that isn't crazy priced in terms of the unit + shipping.  And...is ok-sized for my needs.  Exterior dimensions are 33" x 19" tall x 17.5" wide.  Seems like a decent size to build a project from, doesn't it?   Here, below, is a screenshot of the cooler I've had in an open tab for a week-or-so.

Screenshot via Uline's product listing page here. 

That's the starting point.  From there, it just takes some effort, creativity and some supplies.  

Now, to pull the trigger.  I guess I should finish the pizza oven first, right?  

Or maybe I can build a prototype first.  Then, do the bigger build in the off-season? If I find a smaller, free-to-me cooler.

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