Counterpoint: I work in a very quiet open space office and I like it. If people want to chat they go to the kitchen.
Have to say however that other departments are intolerably noisy.
Counter-Counterpoint: In my almost-never quiet open space office, if people want to chat, they do it at their desks. Right next to my desk. I don't like this. However, with enough people complaining, it has slowly been getting better...