Impact of Art Installation Interventions on the Revitalization of Industrial Heritage Spaces from the Perspective of the Human–Environment Field System: A Case Study of the Zhengzhou Oil and Fat Chemical Factory

In the post-industrial era, art installation interventions have emerged as an important approach to the revitalization of industrial heritage spaces worldwide. However, existing studies on the mechanisms through which art installations influence spatial revitalization and their compatibility with surrounding environments have largely remained focused on the micro-scale design of individual installations, lacking both quantitative empirical evidence and a systematic evaluation framework. From the perspective of the Human–Environment Field System (HEFS), this study develops a systematic installation–space–vitality evaluation framework. Using 52 art installations within the Zhengzhou Oil and Fat Chemical Factory as empirical samples, the study employs a four-quadrant analytical model and multiple regression analysis to systematically investigate the interactive effects of installation attributes and spatial environmental factors on spatial vitality. The objective is to elucidate the mechanisms through which art installations contribute to the revitalization of industrial heritage spaces and to propose differentiated strategies for improving the spatial compatibility of installation interventions. The results indicate that the capacity of art installations to stimulate spatial vitality depends on the synergistic coordination between installations and spatial, with spatial environmental factors exerting a more pronounced influence. Interface richness is the key variable driving the intensity of spatial vitality (β = 0.357, p < 0.01), while the effects of installation typology, volumetric proportion, and facility diversity on spatial vitality are indirectly mediated through their synergistic interactions. Based on the four-quadrant classification, the study further proposes differentiated spatial adaptation guidelines for thematic landmark installations, narrative structural installations, and artistic decorative installations. This study establishes a quantitative explanatory framework, grounded in the HEFS perspective, for understanding how the coupling between art installations and spatial environmental conditions shapes spatial vitality. The findings provide both a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for evidence-based decision-making regarding art installation interventions and for enhancing spatial quality in the revitalization of industrial heritage spaces.