The spaces in which I work (or in which anyone works) varies greatly; from desk crammed in the corner of a bedroom, to park bench, cafe, cubicle, community table, airport wall squat, or bar stool counters. As a result, I have begun to wonder how much the 'ambiance' of the space you deem for work matters.
In college, I considered studying organizational workplace design which combines architecture, spatial planning, and behavioral theories into one. These concepts are used by many progressive companies seeking to design more efficient, productive work spaces which foster better collaboration, visibility, creativity, cooperation, and sense of community for their employees. Often contemporary in their application (we often hear about it from the likes of companies like Apple, Google, and yes even IBM in the good old days), I have wondered how much these thoughtful designs actually do contribute to higher morale, productivity and creativity.
Yep that's a Starbucks below - looks like a Palace and still free wifi !!
After 20 years, I find that I work better when my space changes, sometimes to include a flair for formality, as if the occasional nonsensical thinking I do can find no place here or there, and as if my 'professional' ideas would not flow as freely without the proper 'ambiance' to induce them. Other times, my best work ideas float about amidst the buzzing in and out of people in a nearby cafe or my own living room.
Know and stick with what works for you, but trying something new just might surprise you too. There's always the hallway in your corporate office to try. Just imagine the looks you'll get squatting with a laptop on the carpet near the elevator.
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