I hope you're not suggesting this as a defense of open-plan offices. Moreover, though I think Hamming said a lot of right and useful things, this isn't really one of them. DeMarco and Lister, in Peopleware, even have a whole chapter called "Bring Back the Door" -- I'd rather take productivity advice from people who actually study productivity. Such folks support the ability to close doors and gain privacy when you need it. Hamming, in this matter, is just a Monday morning quarterback. His name and awe don't mean I have to venerate everything he says. Same with Feynman, or anyone else, and especially when they are talking out of their own depth, as Hamming is here.