Long before the modern cubicle became popular in the 1960s, prefabricated office wall partition systems that simulated stick built walls were available. By the 1930s, there were several major manufacturers of office partitions systems, most of whom offered railing systems—the architectural grandparent of today’s cubicle—with optional glazing. The BTHL provides an overview of the stylistic evolution of office partitions following changing fashions, from traditional wood panel systems in the 1920s to minimal Miesian models in the 1960s.
The Evolution of Office Design and Pre-fab Partitions of the 20th Century