Although humans have done much in the way of minimizing, from living in smaller homes to microchips, we still have within us the desire to make or achieve something ginormous.
If country A produces the world's largest building, chances are that country B already has blueprints in the works to outdo them--even if just by one more story. The same applies to the areas of art, jewelry, fountains, swimming pools, and even toys.
In all honesty, I couldn't care less about the tallest buildings or largest diamond. However, when it comes to large structures that produce massive amounts of solar power, turbines or anything having to do with bettering our planet via alternative energy, that gets me excited!