space habitats

What troubles me greatly is the glaring contradiction between our desire to
create an utopia in space, against our inability to create a similar utopia
on Planet Earth, where all conditions are more favourable than they are
likely to be in space.

Has any science fiction writer tried to visualize in detail how a colony of
say a hundred highly qualified people will live - plan their habitations,
engage in agriculture, school their children, manage waste, etc. - in space.

Quite clearly the way we go about these activities on Planet Earth is not
entirely satisfactory. Even considering a basic issue like habitation, we
simply waste space on a colossal scale.

It is unlikely that earthlings who all have this fantasy of living like
kings will change in a hurry. Could space enthusiasts bring a different
perspective to every day living, which is more rewarding and ecologically
more sane?

Regards,
Selvaraj