When creating the modern work environment and seeking to purchase furniture office design now incorporates the original 1950s landscape premise. The idea which was somewhat outlandish at the time was that rather than install workers into individual offices with energy consuming walls separating them and allowing communications only by means of telephones and intercoms. One might place workers into an open air structure or great room, if you will, that would allow communication by simple voice and hand movement. In the late 1950s this idea was disbanded as being socially impossible and from the standpoint of business status impractical.
As a result of the information technology boom, the entire purpose for the office environment completely changed and greater demand for what might be called cross chatter communication between workers developed. Suddenly a previously discarded idea, that of the office landscape, became not only accepted but the norm in primary WorkStation implementation and design. Of course the purpose of the open air work system was not too cram as many people into a smaller place as possible and save money but to foster conditions more conducive to productivity.