Cubicles tend to have a negative conotation... when space is limited, what is a good office design idea?

Is there a layout, or a style of furniture that is better than cubicles? I feel a cube really isolates people, but at the same time, a gettaway for a quiet phone call is needed too.

Anyny suggestions?

I'd say this is much more of a geometry question, than an economic one, but i'll try and answer.

1st) The best solution of course is to find the problem and attack it. Maybe, the workers like cubicles. Never had a problem in the first place.

Or, maybe the workers just don't like the design, or the blocked view, ect. Allowing personal decoration can change that.

2nd) More often than not, the employees have a good idea.

3rd) Worse case, you really do have to rearrange everything. Get a map of your office. Make it a grid to scale (one centemeter^2 on the map can be one square foot). Do that in pen. Then measure all the furniture you have. Make an estimate on how much room your employees need to sit and move.

Make a list of your priorities:
examples:
a) steve needs to sit next to joe cause they're on the same project.
b) sally the secretary needs to be outside dalton's office
c) the heating machine has to be right next to the cutting machine
e) this table can't be here because we don't want the customers to come into the office facing the design department

Then, start to place your furniture by drawing it in pencil going down the priorities list. If you mess up and not have enough room, or can't comply with a priorities, go back and change something so it works. After enough tries you'll get it.

In terms of private calls... cubicles don't usually block out noise. Though there is a privacy with not being seen while talking. If that's the case, leave a few cubicles for rotating use of phones. Or have a few conference rooms. Hope I helped!

Ask your people. They may have the perfect solution for the specific space, and would be happier for having their preferences heard.

put mirrors on the inside of the cubicals.....that would kind of make them look like it is a larger space...but at the same time it would cause sound to echo. I personally think cubicals are a good idea....just as long as there isn't more then 15 in a room. Well ...depending on the room size. I mean you don't want the entire room to be nothing but cubicals and walkways because that is just boring and creepy, but cubicals spread out is cool looking

My cubicle is 10 x 10 ft and it's pretty cosy. I have 3 solid partition and one partition half solid and half glass. You don't feel too enclosed yet there is a defined space.

My general office area is small. My clerks do not have a cubicles, they are all facing front so that they can see people walking into the office. I gave them a waist height partition so that they have their own space in an open concept. Initially I thought the island style is good but there will be at least one person with their back to the counter and they might be spending their time chit chatting with one another.