Finman makes some good points.
Bees, especially new colonies, work better if they do not have to much to do.
Too much space can give them more than they can handle.
I think you may find young colonies will work better in a smaller space.
????
I do not uderstand what you mean. I want big colonies and I have. Thanks to good queens. I have 3 langstroth supers for broods + for honey 3-5 box Farrar or what it is, 14 cm high and Langstroth long. Total 6-8 boxes for one colony.
Good queen produces much brood. That is only way.
Space is needed for bees and honey. Vain space is harmfull, because bees must warm it. If nest is tight, bees love to swarm.
How they have much to do? -- Blooming put them to work. Otherwise bees want to spare they efforts. They do not work for joy.
How I get much honey? - I transport them to good pastures. In my home yard I get only 1/3 good honey yield, but I raise my bees in good condition on my yard for ready to catch good yield.
I put only 4-5 colony in one place. I want only to cream the nectar of flowers.
Last year April I had 4 pieces a coffee cup size colonies . I did them many tricks and I got them ready to harvest. Their medium yield was 90 kg/colony. They were in pasture where they had turnip rape field 10 hectares per colony! They took that yield in 3 weeks. Of course, if it is too dry or rainy, nothing happens.
In Finland we get yield practically only in July. In other months they eat what they get.
What do you mean " I may find young colonies will work better in a smaller space". - That is not true. Space must be proper and for reason.