Is there also an opposite effect? I concentrate best in solitude, preferably somewhere like an abandoned lighthouse.

I'm not sure that's necessarily "opposite"?

I feel much the same as the article author in that

"this place is for doing this thing, now you do it too"

Is somehow powerfully motivating. But at least for me it's about the place, not the other people in the place.

I had the same covid-related journey from an office worker to unexpectedly fully remote. But I'm also lucky/privileged enough to be able to dedicate a room in my house that's quite separate from the rest of the house, and for me that's "where I work". I had coworkers who started out having to work from their kitchen table, some with housemates or children around - pretty sure that would have completely killed my productivity.

I do sometimes resent losing that room, effectively subsidising my boss by relieving his office rent costs. It used to be my "workshop" where I used my 3D printers, built drones, tinkered with electronics, and repaired stuff that broke - and I just don't do those things much any more because going into that room now feels way to much like "work" not "hobby or play".

I'm still trying to replicate my favourite working condition: being on a laptop in the middle of a concert. Pure focus.

Some folks just socialize internally, or have enough little self loops to approach a task in multiple ways