Restorative Experiences Associated with Built Heritage Settings: The Role of Cognitive and Emotional Pathways in Public Mental Well-Being

Built heritage environments are increasingly recognized as important components of the built environment that shape human experiences beyond their cultural and historical values. However, how heritage-related experiences are associated with restorative perceptions through cultural interpretations and human–place relationships remains insufficiently understood. This study examines the mechanisms underlying perceived restorativeness in built heritage environments by integrating heritage identity and place attachment. Using the built heritage of the Macao Peninsula as a case study, an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining large-scale social media semantic analysis with questionnaire-based structural modeling. Analysis of 23,838 user-generated reviews identified key dimensions of public experiences associated with heritage environments, which informed the development of the measurement framework. Survey data from 234 visitors were subsequently analyzed using structural equation modeling and mediation analysis. The results reveal that restorative experiences in built heritage environments are shaped through a cognitive–identity–place pathway. Cultural cognition is associated with heritage identity formation, which is further associated with place attachment and perceived restorativeness. Place identity plays a significant mediating role in linking heritage identity with restorative experiences. These findings highlight that the value of built heritage environments lies not only in their physical characteristics but also in the cultural meanings and emotional connections they foster. This study provides implications for heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, and human-centered design and management of historic environments.