ISS looks nothing like the space stations in sci-fi

I think it's because it does not have artificial gravity.

And has to have every component module fit in the shuttle.

I think technically it can be an independent module, launched as the last stage of a rocket. Which, of course, also forces constrains.

To be fair, most of those are in a future that's a little bit farther along than ours.

The cars in 1900 didn't look all that much like modern cars, either.