[rdiddly]

Ironically, part of the reason for the ascendancy of the open plan, was the popular negative reaction against cubicles. Cubicles were so Dilbert, so 80s/90s IBM/Microsoft/Intel, so "Office Space." OK, maybe they didn't capture the imagination of every special unique snowflake who would've rather been extreme kite-para-heli-wind-surf-skiing. But at least it was a wall. At least it was a space.

[Clubber]

The best method (for maximum sustained productivity) I've experienced is 2 developers to an office. For me, it's actually best if the developers aren't on the same team so they won't often interrupt each other. Either way is better than a cube farm and certainly open office. It's significantly cheaper than an office per developer, but nearly as good.

It's great to collaborate and all, but that should be done at a scheduled time in a scheduled place.

The negatives of open space is why libraries have a STFU rule.

[nsxwolf]

I've had that arrangement before too, and it wasn't bad.