The library example is an interesting one to me, because my personal productivity in libraries varies drastically depending on the layout.
In college, the libraries where I ended up reading and working were impressively tight, vertical, and often almost claustrophobic [1]. Carrels aren't offices, but the ones I used practically were: there were always walls of books all around each one. The libraries also had big open rooms (similar to the pretty U of Chicago photo superuser2 linked to), and I tried working there a couple times, but even to go into those spaces was supremely uncomfortable for me. It wasn't noise: even if there wasn't a soul in the whole library, I wouldn't go there.
I recently quit my job because they moved to an 'open floor plan'. I just don't think I'm wired to work in flat open spaces. Right now I'm working from home, and though my apartment isn't big, somehow I naturally ended up with walls and (medium-to-tall) furniture surrounding me on 3.5 sides, less than an arm's length in each direction.
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The library example is an interesting one to me, because my personal productivity in libraries varies drastically depending on the layout.
In college, the libraries where I ended up reading and working were impressively tight, vertical, and often almost claustrophobic [1]. Carrels aren't offices, but the ones I used practically were: there were always walls of books all around each one. The libraries also had big open rooms (similar to the pretty U of Chicago photo superuser2 linked to), and I tried working there a couple times, but even to go into those spaces was supremely uncomfortable for me. It wasn't noise: even if there wasn't a soul in the whole library, I wouldn't go there.
I recently quit my job because they moved to an 'open floor plan'. I just don't think I'm wired to work in flat open spaces. Right now I'm working from home, and though my apartment isn't big, somehow I naturally ended up with walls and (medium-to-tall) furniture surrounding me on 3.5 sides, less than an arm's length in each direction.
[1]: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CjyKC0qYp78/TaZz0lPFUyI/AAAAAAAAAN... -- other carrels were even more isolated, but not as photogenic.