Learning by Design: The Impact of Physical Space on Adult Learners

The physical learning environment is a crucial yet underexplored factor in adult learning. Optimizing the learning climate can significantly improve learners' engagement, comfort, and well-being. This systematic literature review uses thematic analysis to synthesize findings from 13 peer-reviewed studies (January 2020–December 2025) examining how physical environmental factors influence adult learning experiences. Guided by Person–Environment (P–E) fit theory, the review addresses two questions: (1) how environmental elements—seating, temperature, lighting, and noise—affect adult learners’ concentration, retention, and outcomes; and (2) how adult learners perceive these factors' impact on their engagement and focus. Results reveal that thermal comfort and air quality, acoustic conditions, well-planned lighting, flexible seating, cleanliness, and design aesthetics influence learning outcomes, cognitive focus, and emotional well-being. However, these effects vary according to factors such as the learning task, season, environmental intensity, and learner characteristics. Only a minority of studies explicitly link physical conditions to psychological safety, leaving the emotional dimension comparatively underdeveloped. The review applies findings across adult learning environments, unifies cross-disciplinary research, examines theoretical and methodological differences explaining contradictory results, and argues that physical characteristics of learning environments should be treated as instructional design variables—not merely architectural background. These objectives underscore the need for integrated models and further research reflecting the diverse contexts and realities of adult education.