Common questions regarding top of building

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I think many readers will share my curiosity about the very top of the building, the triangular / wedge shape that is created by timber framing. Is this section of the building purely decorative, or does it have a function like stabilization, etc.? Is the height of the building calculated based on this section of the building, and are there other timber buildings that have higher occupied floors, but are shorter than the total height of this building? Did the architect have any comment about the aesthetic or functional purpose of the top "framed wedge" portion? I'm not able to answer these questions for myself after doing some Google searching, but maybe the answers are out there and known to somebody.