In Tokyo, Japan.
The sorin, or spire, atop a pagoda. It’s usually made of copper or iron and, other than the tiles on each tier’s roof, it’s the only part of a pagoda that is not made of wood. Though the sorin’s design is very symbolic, its purpose is very functional, serving as a counterweight for the top tier (whereas each other tier serves as a counterweight for the one below it).
You have to love it when style and substance, form and function, work so well together.
32squared 