For me, working in an office is about maximizing Communication.
I work for a global company, and collaborate with people around the planet. We're not going to be in one office, therefore an office is pointless.
Plus, your workspace is very much a showcase of your work, personality, and work habits, and I find it way easier to display it on the open planform "science fair" office than in the empty nest "cube farm" booth format.
My results are the showcase of my work. I'm paid for results, not a display of how neat my workspace is. I'm a network engineer, so maybe you're an interior designer and it makes sense.
If you really need privacy, grab a break-out room, or work from home that day. But for the most part, I find that work sucks more when there's not enough communication,
I work from home full-time. If it were practical to meet in an office, I'd do it 1-2 days a week max just for building relationships with coworkers. Still, a majority of my time is actually getting shit done.
As for communication, we have phones, IM chat, and online meetings. There is no shortage of ways to communicate requirements and goals. The only thing that suffers is the ability to grow relationships with people around the coffee maker, and again, that isn't going to happen when we live on opposite sides of this rock.