Christo has created his art across the world

It is estimated that about five million people visited the building after Christo's huge undertaking to entirely cover the building.

Wrapping has become a theme for much of Christo's work, previously covering 160 trees in the Swiss city of Basle in 55,000 square metres of grey cloth and 23 kilometres of rope.

Christo and his French-born wife have also tackled stretches of Florida and California coastlines.

Speaking in 1998 before the unveiling of the Swiss trees Jeanne-Claude explained the meaning behind the method.

No message

"The cloth is the principle element to display the vulnerability, fragility and temporary character of our project.

"It can be very opaque, very transparent, and very sensual. It is very fragile, You know that in a few days it will be gone."

But she also warned critics not to look too deeply into the work.

She said: "Our works of art are like all good art.

"It is good for absolutely nothing else than being a work of art. It is not the symbol, it is not the message, it's only a work of art."