CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE
5,600 Cubicmeter Package
Documenta 4, Kassel, Germany, 1967-68

At the occasion of the Documenta IV 1968, in Kassel, Germany, Christo and Jeanne-Claude created the largest ever inflated structure without a skeleton.

After 3 unsuccessful attempts, it was erected on August 3, 1968 with the assistance of five cranes, two of which were 66 meters (216.5 feet) high and weighed 200 tons each.

The pair of giant cranes, the tallest Europe had to offer, had been operating separately in northern France and Hamburg, Germany, and it took two weeks just to make arrangements for both cranes to arrive simultaneously in Kassel, to elevate the inflated air package from its horizontal position on the ground to its vertical position.

The 6,000 Kg. (13,227 lb.) air package consisted of an envelope made of 2,000 square meters (22,222 sq. ft.) of Trevira fabric coated with PVC and tied with ropes.

The heat sealed fabric envelope was restrained by a net made of 3,500 meters (11,483 ft.) of rope specially prepared by professional riggers and secured by 1,200 knots. The elevation took 9 hours.

Once elevated, the 5,600 Cubicmeter Package stood 85 meters (279 ft.) tall, with a diameter of 10 meters (33 ft.).

Chief engineer Dimiter Zagoroff designed a three and a half ton, 11 meter (36 ft.) diameter steel cradle-like base to support the air package 11 meters (36 ft.) above the ground. The steel cradle was hinged on a central steel column anchored in a one-ton concrete foundation.

Air pressure was maintained by a centrifugal blower run by a variable -speed electric motor. A gasoline generator stood by, in case of power failure.

To keep the air package in its vertical position, steel guy wires were anchored to 12 embedded concrete foundations, six 10-ton and six 18-ton, which were completely removed when the air package was taken down three months later.

All expenses of the project were borne by Christo and Jeanne-Claude through the sale of original drawings, collages, editions and early works.

The artists do not accept sponsorship of any kind.

The land was restored to its original condition.