I've never worked in anything other than open plan offices. Some are definitely better than others. The worst are offices without breakaway spaces, which cause

I've never worked in anything other than open plan offices. Some are definitely better than others. The worst are offices without breakaway spaces, which cause impromptu meetings to happen at desks, which can be immensely distracting. On the other hand, I have found that open plan offices can be a boon when working in small teams. One arrangement I remember quite fondly had groups of 4 desks in an X configuration with L shaped desks. We were working 4 to a team and it was a friendly and cooperative environment. The L shaped desks were also significantly roomier than I've encountered elsewhere. I should note that my experience is in London, where I suspect there's a greater premium on floorspace than in many other places.