Effects of Colour, Lighting, and Spatial Scale on Physiological and Perceived Comfort in Immersive Virtual Interior Environments: Case Study of a Superyacht

This study examines the effects of three environmental design variables, namely colour, lighting, and spatial volume, on users’ physiological and perceptual responses within immersive virtual interior environments, through a case study of the interior of a superyacht. Although researchers have explored each of these factors individually, studies of their combined influence on both physiological and subjective responses remain limited, particularly within the context of maritime interiors. To address this research gap, 40 participants with prior maritime experience were asked to evaluate 18 virtual reality scenarios involving different configurations of colour, lighting, and spatial volume. Physiological responses in the form of heart rate were measured using electrocardiography (ECG), while perceived livability ratings were collected simultaneously. The results indicated that colour significantly influenced both physiological and perceptual responses. Warm colour schemes increased physiological arousal, whereas natural colour tones were associated with higher preference ratings, particularly within larger spatial volumes. No strong independent effects were found for lighting and spatial volume, but these contributed through their interactions with colour. The findings of this research highlight the importance of considering both physiological and perceptual measures when evaluating environmental designs. A VR-based evaluation framework is presented that integrates both physiological and perceptual measures, representing a practical methodology for user-centred decision making in maritime interior design and early-stage ship design practice.