Physical Layout of Batteries and Balance of System Components

For those of you that have lots of experience installing systems I'd like your input on what you consider the best layout for the batteries and components.

I'm installing a system using 2 of Midnite's stretched e-panels which will have 1 VFX3648 and 1 Classic 200 installed on the door of each e-panel. For batteries I'm installing a 48 volt HUP Solar One battery bank. The battery bank consists of 4 steel boxes each housing 6, 2 volt cells which will all be wired in series. The 4 steel boxes measure 40"L x 8.25"W x 25"H. The steel boxes will be housed in a sealed plywood box with a removeable cover vented to the outside.

I've got plenty of wall and floor space so I've got lots of flexibility on installation. My question is mainly, should I install the batteries in a 2x2 (2 steel boxes x 2 steel boxes) which would have a footprint of the box of approximately 82" long x 18.5" wide x 27" high, and then mount both e-panels on the wall directly over the battery boxes? This configuration would allow me to minimize the inverter-to-battery cable length and charge controller-to-battery cable length, but would mean that I would have to work over the battery box any time I need to interact with the inverter, charge controller, etc.
The other option is to utilize a corner space and have the batteries stalled on one wall in a 1x4 (1 steel box x 4 steel boxes) which would have a box footprint of approximately 42" long x 35" wide x 27" high, then mount both e-panels on the adjacent wall around the corner, in a configuration which would not be directly over the batteries. This configuration would have longer battery cables but I would be able to access the e-panels without working over the top of the battery box.
So which way would you go?