Best environment I ever worked in was at Apple, where we had "pods", 8-10 closed single-occupant offices around a central area that had couches and a large whit

Best environment I ever worked in was at Apple, where we had "pods", 8-10 closed single-occupant offices around a central area that had couches and a large whiteboard. Want to concentrate, or shut out the annoying gabfest? Close your door. Maybe put a sign up if you really don't want to be disturbed (I only did this once). Want to participate in the design session happening right outside? Just open your door and scoot your chair over. Grab a whiteboard pen and jump in if you want to contribute. Most open space is a short-sighted cost savings measure that comes out of the wrong budget, designed by people who are not engineers. The space designers I've talked to seemed to be more interested in "the language of the space" and color coordination and carpet wear, and always spoke condescendingly about noise and distraction concerns. Maybe the "pattern language" stuff is important, but I'd be happier if architects and the people who pay them really understood how engineers work.