Reiterating the Spirit of Place: A Framework for Heritage Site in VR

This study proposes and tests a virtual reality (VR) framework aimed at reiterating the Spirit of Place (SiP) of heritage sites, conceived as a perceiver’s perception of place formed through the dynamic interplay of tangible and intangible influences within a given location. The framework applies Gilles Deleuze’s concepts of ‘difference in itself’ and ‘repetition for itself’ to create interpretive VR experiences that evoke SiP by integrating natural features, built structures, cultural memories, historical narratives, cultural narratives, and symbolic associations. Through a controlled experiment involving both video and VR interactions with heritage sites, participants reported elevated emotional connections and a deeper engagement with SiP in the VR environment. This confirms that VR can serve as an effective medium for heritage preservation, capturing the site’s distinct identity and fostering embodied engagement shaped by users’ memories and cultural familiarity. These findings validate the framework’s potential to convey the unique identity of heritage sites, offering a transformative tool for virtual heritage applications.