Acclaimed for his atmospheric, experimental artworks, but perhaps less so for his widely discussed New York City Waterfalls project last year, artist Olafur Eliasson has now turned his talents to a more functional architectural endeavor: creating a bridge.

Cirkelbroen (the circle bridge) will cross the Christianshavns Kanal in Copenhagen, allowing pedestrians to walk around the city's entire inner harbor for the first time, but, true to the Danish-Icelandic artist's practice of challenging viewers' perceptions, will cut a winding rather than a straight path.

"In contrast to the long, straight pier, the winding bridge will reduce speed, turn focus," Eliasson said. "Rather than offering the fastest possible passage across the canal, the bridge will create small variations in the way we see the city and open for a renegotiation of public space.”

Consisting of five circular platforms of varying sizes, the bridge takes as its inspiration the sailing ship; each of the platforms supports its own mast.

The 100-foot-long bridge is budgeted at approximately $7 million, to be provided by municipal and private funders, and is expected to be completed in 2012.