Spire

The tip of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Moscow.  One of the "Seven Sisters", or Vysotki, seven skyscrapers built between 1947 and 1953 ostensibly to rival similar structures elsewhere on the world.

This one, 172 meters and 27 stories high, was completed in 1953. The original design envisaged a blunt rectangular top. However, as completion neared (and rumored to be on Stalin's order), a spire made of sheer metal and dyed to match the building's exterior, was added to tower's roof, assimilating its silhouette with those of the other Sisters.  The building's design would not support a stone superstructure and consequently the spire had to be steel and painted to match the building.  Rumor has it that after Stalin's death the architect Minkus wrote to Khrushchev suggesting that the spire be removed to comply with the original design.  Khrushchev allegedly replied: "Let steeple remain a monument of Stalin's stupidity!"  So rumor has it.