Christo and Jeanne-Claude worked on their projects for many years before moving on to the realization stage. Obtaining authorisations, making plans and models, choosing materials, installing the work, all these steps are very long. Since their works depend solely on their desires and are not the result of a commission, the artists enjoy great creative freedom. For example, Christo drew the first sketches of the packaging for the Arc de Triomphe (completed in 2021) sixty years ago! As for the packaging of the Reichstag Palace in Berlin, it took the two artists twenty-five years to prepare.