A Content Analysis of Immersive Spatial Design Components in Sports Recreational Spaces
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/idealogy.v11i2.986Abstract
Many modern sports facilities are built for durability and basic function, but this often leaves them feeling sterile and uninviting, a problem that may be quietly undermining public motivation to stay active. This paper looks at immersive technologies that offer a way to bring these spaces back to life. Specifically, it examines the components of immersive spatial design and how they might be used to boost physical activity and athletic performance. Recreational sports venues have traditionally leaned toward plain, low-maintenance layouts, and this can contribute to mental fatigue and a drop in motivation among both serious athletes and casual users. To explore this, eight international immersive sports projects spanning 2010 to 2026 were examined through a qualitative content analysis, organized around four components: physical object, content, interaction, and environment. Each of these was assessed for its role in shaping physical interaction, spatial realism, and psychological focus. The analysis suggests that expressive, dynamic visuals projected across three-dimensional surfaces, paired with automated or touch-free tracking and deliberately controlled lighting, do a great deal to enhance immersion, concentration, and motivation among athletes. In effect, immersive spatial design turns passive concrete structures into environments that respond to the people using them, closing the gap between purely functional urban infrastructure and the sensory expectations audiences now bring with them. The paper concludes that bringing these components together offers a workable path toward modernizing public sports venues, one that can deepen psychological flow and support long-term public health engagement for future generations.
Keywords: Immersive Spatial Design, Sports recreational spaces
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