While I do think "real offices with doors" might be a component of the "right" solution, I still think there needs to be more thought and experimentation about other components such as shared spaces, rotations, etc. I also think easily reconfigurable cubes, possibly high-walled, might be another component.
Separate offices for at most 3 or 4 people who need to cooperate closely, with doors that close. Using glass walls you can get the same spacious feeling as an open office without the noise.
Glass walls don't provide any feeling of privacy, which is one of the complaints employees typically have about open floor plans.
If shared offices are used, I think they should have opaque walls and everyone should be able to position themselves such that they have a wall at their back. This leads to a feeling of privacy. And it actually encourages discussion among those sharing an office, as opposed to the more typical layout of N people staring at the walls with their backs to each other.
What is so important about privacy? You're supposed to be working, aren't you? I can totally understand privacy when you're dealing with sensitive date that shouldn't be seen by other people.
I get this feeling. I guess a way to describe it would be to ask - are you constantly productive from the minute you sit down to the minute you leave? I work in an open-plan office, in a corner with my back to the room. As such, my monitor's in sight of 10 peers and managers. Someone might look over when I'm taking a quick break, or it might be when I've become distracted due to the noise level and am finding it hard to concentrate. Would you be happy with someone watching your screen remotely at unknown intervals?
It's not entirely logical - chances are no one's watching me - but it's brain overhead you don't need.
When people feel they have no privacy, they are more anxious, more stressed, less satisfied, and less productive. The New Yorker article linked to a published article about this: http://www.jstor.org/stable/255498
But you don't need an article to tell you this. It feels shitty to feel like you're under a microscope all the time. Basic privacy makes people more comfortable.
Human nature. It's not the "privacy" per-se, so much as the sense of security. Who wants to feel totally exposed at all times, especially in a situation where someone can easily walk up behind you? It sucks because it leaves us feeling vulnerable and unsafe.
Anyone have any better ideas?